KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng today said he cooperated with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), in response to DAP lawmaker Khoo Poay Tiong’s remarks against him in the Dewan Rakyat two days ago.
The deputy plantation industries and commodities minister told The Vibes that he cooperated with PAC in its investigation into alleged wrongdoings, adding that DAP brought up the issue a year ago during the Tg Piai by-election, when he was the Barisan Nasional candidate.
“I have already cooperated with PAC. Whatever that has to be said, is already in the report.
“All the information is in the PAC report, so why must I entertain them?”
Khoo (PH-Kota Melaka) had alleged that Wee owned shares in a company that was recently awarded a project through direct tender.
Wee said it is DAP playing politics and smearing his name.
“They (DAP) use this tactic as a political move to ruin our image. This is the DAP culture.”
On Tuesday, Khoo called on Wee to give an explanation, telling a press conference that the latter has failed to come forward and assert his stance.
On November 10, The Vibes reported that PAC has flagged political influence in two directly awarded contracts under the Transport Ministry, then led by Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
The projects are the Johor-Singapore Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) and Road Charges (RC) system that were directly awarded to TC Sens Sdn Bhd for RM149.45 million, said PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh when presenting the committee’s report.
He said PAC heard testimonies from Wee, a former shareholder of TC Sens; former ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman; Liow; and, former chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Ismail Bakar, who held the post of ministry secretary-general between November 18, 2015 and December 15, 2018.
The committee also heard from TC Sens chief executive Tan Chean Suan, whose company was awarded two separate contracts, namely capital expenditure (capex) amounting to RM45.15 million and operational expenditure (opex) amounting to RM104.3 million.
Wong said PAC found no proper justification for the projects to be awarded via direct tender.
“MPs also need to declare business interests to the ministry in charge, if the business involves government projects.
“The selection of TC Sens Sdn Bhd, which was submitted by the then transport minister (Liow) to the then prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak), was done without a comprehensive evaluation with respect to the financial and technical capabilities of the company to implement the RC/VEP system projects.”
The committee found “the existence of political influence in the appointment of contractors/vendors for the RC/VEP system projects through direct negotiations”. – The Vibes, November 20, 2020
