KUALA LUMPUR – The solid waste project in Taman Beringin, Kepong, was first approved by the Barisan Nasional regime in 2017 and renegotiated when Pakatan Harapan took over the federal government in May 2018, said the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
In a parliamentary written reply yesterday, the ministry said BN appointed Bumi Segar Indah Sdn Bhd for the project.
The ministry added that when PH took over, the ministry was directed by the Finance Ministry to reconsider the project and present a new proposal.
After presenting a new proposal, approval was given by the Finance Ministry on February 20, last year, and the deal was awarded to the company with a reduced “tipping” fee of RM43.20 per tonne, said the Housing Ministry.
This was in reply to former finance minister Lim Guan Eng’s (PH-Bagan) question over the involvement of the ministry's secretary-general in the RM170.3 million direct negotiation deal over the Taman Beringin solid waste project.
At that time, Lim was the PH government’s finance minister.
Meanwhile, in September, Lim denied involvement in the dealings, asking Housing Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin to present documents as proof.
On August 28, Zuraida had alleged that Lim awarded the Taman Beringin project under her ministry without open tender and without her knowledge.
Her statement followed Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz’s announcement in Dewan Rakyat that 101 contracts worth RM6.61 billion were awarded via direct negotiations during the PH administration. – The Vibes, December 11, 2020