KUALA LUMPUR – At least 10 of the 216 companies with security or cleaning contracts issued by the Health and Education Ministries allegedly have shareholders or directors who are political party members.
In a study released by the Government Contract Workers Network (JPKK), it highlighted discrepancies in the government tender process, and revealed a number of companies that won tenders between 2016 and 2020 as having political ties.
The political parties alleged in the report were Umno and PKR, with claims that PKR members supposedly received tenders after the 2018 general election following Pakatan Harapan’s win.
Among the individuals alleged to be involved were a former political secretary to a sitting Umno cabinet member as well as an individual linked to the Penang undersea tunnel project.
The report also highlighted that four companies did not submit their audit reports to the Companies Commission of Malaysia, but did not disclose for which year.
Among the reasons for the report, JPKK said, is to highlight weaknesses in the government’s tender process.
The lack of transparency, as well as the role of the tender management departments, were questioned.
“Employees in this department hold wide powers in influencing tender results,” the report said.
JPKK has called for institutional reforms to remedy these issues, including improving powers to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to prosecute and be free from the Attorney-General’s Chambers interference.
The publication of the report was held during a webinar by the Malaysian Socialist Party while the study was presented by independent researcher Pushpan Murugiah and JPKK national coordinator Danial Hakeem. – The Vibes, September 9, 2021
