YOUTH and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh’s husband Ramachandran Muniandy said his company was selected by the Selangor government for a transport service pilot project based purely on merit and not because he was married to a minister.
He also said that his company – Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd – had met all the necessary requirements to become a service provider for Selangor Mobility’s demand-responsive transit (DRT) system.
The company has been given nine months to run the project on a trial basis since November last year.
Asia Mobiliti’s direct appointment has come under public scrutiny over the company’s links to Yeoh.
Ramachandran is Asia Mobiliti’s co-founder and chief executive officer.
Ramachandran, as quoted in a report on news portal Scoop today, said the public should take note of Asia Mobiliti’s capabilities and track record in addressing public transportation woes.
“(It’s as if critics are saying) we don’t care how good you are, we want to see who you’re married to. They don’t care whether or not we can do the job… what kind of logic is this?
“As far as we’re concerned, the issue now is about meritocracy. We have proven that we’ve got the expertise and licensing to do it, (as) we went through due processes in order to operate a service that can be safely run for the state.
“In doing so, we managed to convince relevant stakeholders that this (DRT) is a viable solution,” Ramachandran was quoted as saying.
He added Asia Mobiliti had consistently practised transparency and accountability in its decision-making processes, and that he and Yeoh had foreseen criticism coming their way.
“We (he and Yeoh) obviously went into this with our eyes wide open, we knew this day would come at some point (when) someone would stir something and link it all up. So, we’ve been super transparent. If the questions come, we can answer them.”
Former DAP leader P Ramasamy, however, believes the resignation of Ramachandran or Yeoh remains the best possible solution.
“This resignation has nothing to do with the ability or professionalism of Ramachandran. It is too bad that he happens to be the husband of Yeoh.
“While Yeoh might welcome the investigation by the MACC, however, such investigation is not going to alter the facts of the directly negotiated DRT award to Asia Mobiliti or the family links between Ramachandran and Yeoh.
“I really wonder how the MACC investigation, whatever the outcome, can clear the name of Ramachandran or his wife Yeoh.
“Resignation of either of them would be the best possible solution to get over the present impasse,” he said in a statement today.
The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) was allegedly investigating the project after receiving new leads.
“The investigation encompasses potential abuse of power and governance issues, focusing on compliance with treasury directives in the appointment process of the said company by the Selangor state government,” a source was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times over the weekend.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had previously said there was no need to investigate the case as no crime had been committed.
He said this was because the Selangor Mobility Initiative contract was not awarded to the company by Yeoh’s ministry but by the Selangor government.
Yeoh, meanwhile, welcomed the MACC investigations, saying that she wants “to see truth and vindication come out of this investigation. Malaysia deserves nothing less”. – June 3, 2024.
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