KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri has taken a swipe at the Opposition in the Dewan Rakyat over the award of direct negotiated contracts worth over RM6bil by the former Pakatan Harapan administration.
"In my view, direct negotiated contracts are allowed under government procurement procedures.
"However, in its election manifesto, Pakatan stated that it would not award direct negotiated contracts.
“Pakatan said it would uphold the principles of clean, accountability and transparency but it seems they are not that clear on this issue,” Rahim said when replying to a supplementary question raised by Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PH-Kulim Bandar Baru) in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Aug 26).
Saifuddin had challenged Rahim to reveal the list of 101 projects that were approved under direct negotiations “as soon as possible or within 24 hours”.
Saifuddin raised the issue after Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PAS-Pasir Mas) asked Rahim to reveal the names of donors who had contributed towards the former Tabung Harapan Malaysia.
"Will the list of donors be given so that we can see if they are among those under the 101 direct negotiated contract list?
"The issue has become the talk of Malaysians on social media,” Fadhli said.
Rahim old lawmakers that the names of donors could not be revealed as they are protected under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and Financial Services Act, but he did not elaborate.
The PDPA governs the sharing of information with third parties in commercial transactions only.
Earlier, Rahim said a total RM205.49mil under the Tabung Harapan Malaysia fund was used to pay off government debts linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
On Monday (Aug 24), chaos erupted in the House after Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz revealed that a total of 101 projects worth RM6.61bil were awarded through direct negotiations by the Finance Ministry under the Pakatan government.
At a press conference on Tuesday (Aug 25), former finance minister Lim Guan Eng challenged Zafrul to make public the list of 101 projects.
Lim also defended the awarding of these contracts through direct negotiations during Pakatan's administration, saying it was done for crucial projects under special circumstances and according to ministry guidelines.
Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) has since lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) urging an investigation.
At a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday (Aug 26), Lim said he had no problems with the MACC probing the list if it is done in a fair and professional manner.
He also said that there should not be double standards in the matter, urging the MACC to also probe direct award contracts given out by the Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional administrations.
"In my view, direct negotiated contracts are allowed under government procurement procedures.
"However, in its election manifesto, Pakatan stated that it would not award direct negotiated contracts.
“Pakatan said it would uphold the principles of clean, accountability and transparency but it seems they are not that clear on this issue,” Rahim said when replying to a supplementary question raised by Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PH-Kulim Bandar Baru) in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Aug 26).
Saifuddin had challenged Rahim to reveal the list of 101 projects that were approved under direct negotiations “as soon as possible or within 24 hours”.
Saifuddin raised the issue after Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PAS-Pasir Mas) asked Rahim to reveal the names of donors who had contributed towards the former Tabung Harapan Malaysia.
"Will the list of donors be given so that we can see if they are among those under the 101 direct negotiated contract list?
"The issue has become the talk of Malaysians on social media,” Fadhli said.
Rahim old lawmakers that the names of donors could not be revealed as they are protected under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and Financial Services Act, but he did not elaborate.
The PDPA governs the sharing of information with third parties in commercial transactions only.
Earlier, Rahim said a total RM205.49mil under the Tabung Harapan Malaysia fund was used to pay off government debts linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
On Monday (Aug 24), chaos erupted in the House after Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz revealed that a total of 101 projects worth RM6.61bil were awarded through direct negotiations by the Finance Ministry under the Pakatan government.
At a press conference on Tuesday (Aug 25), former finance minister Lim Guan Eng challenged Zafrul to make public the list of 101 projects.
Lim also defended the awarding of these contracts through direct negotiations during Pakatan's administration, saying it was done for crucial projects under special circumstances and according to ministry guidelines.
Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) has since lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) urging an investigation.
At a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday (Aug 26), Lim said he had no problems with the MACC probing the list if it is done in a fair and professional manner.
He also said that there should not be double standards in the matter, urging the MACC to also probe direct award contracts given out by the Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional administrations.
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