Baru Bian
KUCHING: State PKR chairman Baru Bian said he was merely citing the findings of the Auditor-General’s (AG’s) Report in his statement to the press without going into the specifics that the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) had paid RM2.88 million to two contractors for paint jobs which was never done.
Baru, who is Ba Kelalan assemblyman, said at no time did he utter any names of persons or companies named in the report.
“I have been falsely accused of tarnishing a nameless company and an equally nameless contractor, and I cannot even sue for defamation as they do not have the honour and the courage to own up to their identities. This is cowardice at its worst,” he told a press conference here today.
Baru was responding to The Borneo Post today in which an unnamed contractor accused him of not checking the facts before making allegations against the company.
Baru was surprised that anyone would hold a press conference and instruct the press to not disclose his identity, adding that he was equally surprised that the press complied.
“If this person is truly blameless and wishes to refute the facts in the Auditor General’s report and in the ‘misleading viral posts’, he should not be hiding behind anonymity.
“What is there to hide if one is truly innocent of charges made against one? How does one clear one’s name without identifying himself?”
Baru stressed that the AG’s audit has set processes, which are followed when they carry out their work.
“If the contractor’s name, whatever it may be, is cited in the report, I am sure that he would have been given an opportunity to present his case to the AG during their investigations.
“If he is saying that due process was not carried out and the AG’s report was inaccurate, then he should take issue with the AG. Perhaps he should consider suing the AG for defamation.”
Baru said as the Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian has indicated that his Ministry will probe the shortcomings in HDC, perhaps it may be better to hand over the matter to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate.
“The involvement of the MACC may be warranted as huge sums of money are involved and the people of Sarawak will be more assured if an independent party is tasked with carrying out thorough investigations into this matter.”