Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Istana Negara

http://themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/rm800m-bill-for-new-istana-negara

Quote from above site "The Istana Negara complex itself will cost around RM650 million and the project was awarded to Maya Maju, also through direct negotiation. The palace will be completed by February next year. Note :- Direct negotiation means NO tender was called for. This is AGAINST the JKR guidelines that CLEARLY state that all projects costing more then RM100 thousand ringgit should go for tender. This project was budgeted originally at RM400 Million....

Checks with the ROC reveal that Maya Maju Sdn Bhd registered shareholders are Mr Ko Chin Teck (RM15,000 shares), Mr Lo Sin Li (RM85,000 shares). The directors are Ko and En Mohamad Muslim Hamzah (Mohamad Muslim does not own any shares). Maya Maju Sdn Bhd in other words has NO Bumiputera shareholders. And they only have RM100,000.00 ringgit in paid up capital. Yet they were awarded a RM650 Million job without having to tender for it.

1. With such a low paid up they do not qualify to tender for projects exceeding RM1 Million as certified by CIDB WHICH JKR HAS TO ABIDE BY. This project costs at last count RM650 million.

2. JKR guidelines CLEARLY STIPULATE THAT ALL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS MUST GO TO MOF (Ministry of Finance) CERTIFIED BUMIPUTERA CONTRACTORS.

All's quiet now on this after the initial furore. There were published reports that workers on site were treated like conscript labour with wages unpaid for months and their travel documentation held by their employers. Wither the outcomes there? Were the reports unfounded or were they swept under the carpet away from the national conscience...?

Every rule in the book was broken here...how did this happen and are any questions being asked? It is the responsibility of our duly elected government to not just be mindful of malpractice but to ensure any untoward practice be addressed appropriately.

Let it not be forgotten that we are building a Palace for our King and perish the thought that he be positioned in a domicile that was built by contractors that aren't validated or qualify or are ethically responsible to undertake such work...