KUALA LUMPUR: A government backbencher has expressed strong reservation over the Government Procurement Bill 2025, saying it contains many weaknesses and should not be passed in a rushed manner.
Hassan Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang) said there were many problematic parts in the Bill but he drew the attention to several provisions that granted a minister wide-ranging powers.
"Let me give a concrete example of a weakness in this Bill. The aspect I have chosen is the excessive powers given to a single minister.
"Please refer to the Bill. Look at Section 10(1)(a), Schedule 1, which states that the minister can approve mega contracts without any ceiling limit. This is dangerous," he said while debating the Government Procurement Bill for the second reading in Parliament on Wednesday (Aug 27).
Hassan also pointed out Section 12(8) under the Bill that states that the minister is not bound by the recommendations of the procurement board.
"That is a huge power. Then, in Section 12(8), it states that in situations where there is a deadlock in the procurement board’s meeting, the minister can make the final decision alone. How can this be acceptable?
"In Section 11(1), Schedule 2, the minister also has the power to influence the appointment of the procurement board," said the PKR MP.
"I see that the minister is clearly acting in two roles: first, as the regulator, exercising oversight and control and second, as a participant in procurement decisions.
"This is a conflict of interest. These two roles weaken and compromise the basic safeguards against conflicts of interest.
"In conclusion, I view this Bill, in its current form, as dangerous.
"It creates an excessive concentration of discretionary power in the hands of the minister," he said, to the thunderous thumbs of tables from the floor.
"I love this Government, but I love this country and its people even more," said the lawmaker.
Hassan also said, "Previously, we had a Prime Minister who was also the Finance Minister. Now again, we have a Prime Minister who is also the Finance Minister.
"I am not referring to any specific individual, but to protect our country and billions of ringgit, I stand here today to say; let us postpone this. Better to be late than sorry," said Hasan.
Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dismissed allegations that the proposed Government Procurement Bill 2025 will give excessive discretionary powers to the Finance Minister
Anwar said that in truth, under the new Bill, checks and balances are reinforced.
"Procurement decisions, including those by the minister, can now be challenged and reviewed through an independent Review Panel and Procurement Appeal Tribunal," said Anwar, when tabling the Bill for its second reading.
