Give us solid evidence to back your claim, MACC tells Chong

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Chong Chieng Jen

KUCHING: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) wants state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen to provide detailed information on the alleged irregularities in the award of a road project in Kapit.

“We are ready to meet YB Chong at any time with regard to the allegation.

“In fact, our (MACC) Investigation Division director Datuk Mohd Jamidan Abdullah had several times contacted Chong last Thursday, but to no avail,” deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull said in a statement to online news portal MalaysiaKini, which was also made available to The Borneo Post yesterday.

Stressing further, he said MACC had never closed or dismissed complaints with merits that warrant them to be investigated.

“We have never been selective in the investigation of any case.

“However, I would want to stress here that MACC needs details and precise information when we receive cases, to enable us to conduct thorough investigation.”

Last Thursday, Chong alleged that the cost for the construction of Song-Sungai Yong Road Phase 3 – part of the long-awaited stretch to Kapit – had escalated by RM20 million after the ‘selected tender’ process was applied.

During the press conference at the party’s headquarters here that day, Chong said the contract worth RM119.8 million was awarded to a local company eight months after the cancellation of the open tender process, despite the fact that there were many companies submitting tender prices below RM100 million.

“There were 17 contractors who submitted tender prices below RM100 million and 15 more contractors with tender prices below RM119.8 million for the project. The mean (average) tender price of these 32 contractors is about RM99 million, which is RM20 million less than the award price (for the company awarded the contract).

“Why did the government want to pay an extra RM20 million more for the said project? The amount of RM20 million is a lot of money – enough to build two to three new schools,” the DAP man was quoted as having said.

On the case, Mohd Shukri hoped that Chong would come and see MACC the soonest.

“All quarters, including Chong, who think that we are dismissive of the complaints lodged by them, can contact the Executive Committee on Corruption and Complaints Committee – two out of five independent bodies that monitor the MACC.

“May I also remind that the Executive Committee on Corruption comprises several members of Parliament, including one from DAP, Dr Tan Seng Giaw (Kepong MP),” he said.