KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul has ordered the resolution of the dispute over the Central Database Hub (Padu) development cost.
Johari stated he had received explanations from the involved parties, including Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (Barisan Nasional-Ayer Hitam), Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, and Chong Zhemin (Pakatan Harapan-Kampar).
"I have reviewed all the explanations. Both Ayer Hitam and Pandan's (Rafizi) statements referred to different matters, and both are correct.
"Ayer Hitam referred to Padu’s overall cost between 2023 to 2025, whereas Pandan referred to Padu’s development cost up to September this year.
"The manner in which the topic was previously brought up was from different perspectives," he told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Nov 28).
Johari also noted that he found no prima facie evidence regarding the matters raised under Standing Order 36(6) and 36(12).
"This matter does not need to be raised any further as I have already made a decision, which was sent in a letter to Kampar.
"Here’s the closure. I don’t want it to be raised anymore.
"There may be differing opinions, but all the facts are correct, be it from Ayer Hitam or Pandan.
"Case closed," Johari said.
The Speaker’s remarks come after Dr Wee questioned the actual development cost of Padu several weeks ago, with Chong claiming that the Ayer Hitam MP attempted to mislead the House.
Chong also claimed that Dr Wee referred Rafizi to the rights and privileges committee.
In his defence, Dr Wee said he never referred the Economy Minister to the committee, citing the Parliament’s Hansard.
Dr Wee also maintained that he referred to parliamentary records when he remarked that the development and implementation of the Padu system from 2023 to 2025 is expected to cost RM85.27mil.
Recently, Rafizi stated it was untrue that Padu was developed with an allocation of RM85mil, saying that only RM31mil had been spent as of September.
According to Rafizi, the RM31mil included RM800,000 on servers, firewall, and network security, RM4.6mil for platform database encryption and other purposes, and RM6.4mil for cloud services.
The heftiest expenditure on Padu, said Rafizi, was the RM19.3mil for nationwide registration operations.
