THE Selangor government must release details of Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd’s (Asia Mobiliti) appointment to carry out a transport-related project in the state, said anti-corruption watchdog C4 Centre.
It said the state government must also give its commitment to make procurement-related information publicly accessible.
At the same time, C4 said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must conduct a comprehensive probe into the issue to look for any potential instances of abuse of power or undue influence.
C4 also called on the federal government to urgently enact procurement reforms to overcome the dangers of conflict of interest and lack of transparency.
The appointment of Asia Mobiliti as a service provider for Selangor Mobility’s demand-responsive transit (DRT) system has come under public scrutiny over the company’s links to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
Asia Mobiliti’s co-founder and chief executive officer Ramachandran Muniandy is Yeoh’s husband.
MACC chairman Azam Baki, however, has said there was “no issue” with the appointment as Yeoh’s ministry had no direct ties to the Selangor government.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday said he would leave it to the relevant authorities to investigate the issue, only adding that the investigation must be transparent.
“C4 Centre is extremely concerned with the potential conflicts of interest in the appointment and the lack of transparency regarding the appointment process,” it said in a statement.
“Regardless of whether the Youth and Sports Ministry is involved, the fact remains that Yeoh holds a position as a prominent figure within DAP – and by extension Pakatan Harapan.
“The simple fact that the same coalition forms the Selangor state government is enough to raise valid suspicions around the propriety of the appointment,” added C4 Centre.
It said that although formal bureaucratic channels may not be directly linked in this matter, other political connections do exist.
These connections, C4 said, are enough to raise serious questions regarding conflict of interest, which remain unaddressed despite its grave implications for good governance.
It added that the state has so far failed to furnish any details pertaining to the list of criteria relevant to the approval for the project.
“Why was no criteria disclosed publicly, especially in a situation as contentious as this? The opaqueness of the appointment procedure has only allowed aspersions to be cast regarding this matter.
“This runs counter to Pakatan Harapan’s explicit commitment to a more transparent public procurement system – pledged in both their 2022 Kita Boleh manifesto and by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who as recently as last week, reiterated the need for an open tender system.”
C4 said this saga has exposed the need for Malaysia to consider a legal framework to regulate conflicts of interest.
“In doing so, a clearly defined scope must be established to clarify what exactly constitutes a conflict of interest, with stipulations that restrict or outright prohibit actors with contentious relations to the dealings.
“There must then be full disclosure provided to the public for any proceedings flagged as having conflicts, allowing for better transparency, and easing future investigations,” it said. – May 29, 2024
