by Dr. Chen Man Hin
Last year on August 5th the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was quoted as saying that open tender would be implemented for government procurements. This was a very encouraging statement and gave the impression that he really intended to institute reforms to bring about better governance. Was this the signal that things are changing?
Later, when he was anointed prime minister, he announced further reforms to launch off his “1 Malaysia, People First, Performance Now” concept. This was even more promising.
Unfortunately, the euphoria engendered so far has now vanished by the announcement in Parliament on Wednesday that MATRADE expo – the biggest and most comprehensive exhibition center – would be awarded to a private contractor NAZA TTDI through private negotiated deal. The government procurement was NOT given out by OPEN TENDER.
This is a shocking development and has unravelled all the attempts by Najib to initiate a series of reforms for better governance in a “1 Malaysia”.
The latest shock has come after an earlier revelation that Malaysia’s Corruption Perception Index ranking has fallen sharply from 47th to 56th place. This was a big blow to the hopes for a cleaner and more efficient government.
OPEN PLEA TO PM NAJIB. PLEASE PRACTISE WHAT YOU PREACH. YOU CANNOT SAY GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENTS ARE BY OPEN TENDER AND IN THE NEXT BREATH YOU ALLOW THE GIANT PROCUREMENT OF MATRADE BY PRIVATE NEGOTIATED AWARD.
NEITHER CAN YOU CLAIM TO ERADICATE CORRUPTION WHEN AT THE SAME TIME THERE IS REPRESSION OF THE OPPOSITION, USING GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE MACC, THE JUDICIARY, THE ATTORNEY CHAMBERS AS THE INSTRUMENTS OF REPRESSION RATHER THAN FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE.
NEITHER CAN CORRUPTION BE ERADICATED IF THE CULTURE OF DEMANDING MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE BY MINISTERS AND DEPUTIES FOR ALL FORMS OF SERVICES CONTINUE TO BE PRACTISED CAUSING PAIN AND SUFFERING FOR THE PEOPLE.