Wee: Probe RM99mil 'Speedy Gonzales' Tourism Malaysia contract

PETALING JAYA: Former Tourism Malaysia chairman Wee Choo Keong (pic) is crying foul over a RM99mil deal between a local company and Tourism Malaysia which was inked in just one day.

Wee, who labelled the agreement as "Speedy Gonzales contract", claimed that the deal was made against the ministry's procurement regulations and done hastily without proper due diligence.

"From my knowledge and experience in government procurement, this case seems peculiar and perhaps goes against the finance ministry's procurement regulations.

"Why the rush? Was the contract scrutinised and due diligence carried out?" Wee said in a blog posting on May 31.

The contract in question was with the local company which acted as a go-between for Tourism Malaysia and a China-based firm to promote Malaysia on social media platforms.

Wee, who is former Wangsa Maju MP, said the local company was set up on Nov 6 last year and the contract inked on April 4, where Tourism Malaysia had since paid RM11.9mil to the company.

He noted that the deal was signed despite insufficient allocation in the ministry's coffers.

He called on the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa to instruct the Auditor-General to investigate the deal and take action against senior ministry officials who had flouted regulations.

Wee, who claims to have evidence of the dubious deal, said that he will be lodging a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.