ASIA Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd co-owner and the one of the founders of Malaysiakini Premesh Chandran has surfaced to defend the award of the transit project to his company.
The pilot programme was also awarded to another company. Both were awarded the project through direct negotiations rather than adhering to the mantra of open-tender system of the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government.
I have no qualms over the competency of Asia Mobility Technologies to undertake the project. I am sure Premesh and the Ramachandran Muniandy who is CEO of the company are competent individuals to undertake the project.
Unfortunately, Ramachandran happens to be the husband of Youth and Sports Minister and Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh.
A pertinent question is how the project could be awarded through direct negotiations when the principal officer or the CEO happens to be the husband of Yeoh. (Editor’s note: Asia Mobility Technologies has justified that an open tender in a highly specialised new service with only two qualified companies in Malaysia would have created a monopoly situation in the Selangor state).
Yeoh is a senior leader of the DAP, a party that strongly advocates open tenders and transparency in the award of government projects. The PH-led coalition is no different for it, too, advocates the adherence to an open tender system.
However, the PH-led government having set high and mighty principles seems not to have followed them. I am sure the Selangor state or the committee on the award of tenders must have known the relationship between Ramachandran and Yeoh.
MKini co-founder’s involvement
Yeoh is no ordinary person but a Cabinet minister who must be above cronyism and favouritism.
Even if the selection committee was not aware of the family links been Yeoh and Ramachandran, Yeoh should have known better in advising her husband. She should have advised him not to be involved in the project in the first place.
Even if Asian Mobility Technologies obtained the award on its own merit, it would be difficult to dispel the notion of favouritism or cronyism. I am sure Yeoh or her husband must know the political implications of securing the project. The political embarrassment is here to stay.
On the other hand, Premesh is one of the persons credited for establishment of the pioneering online Malaysiakini publication. Without the efforts of Premesh and Stevan Gan, Malaysiakini would not have emerged as a leading publication not only in Malaysia but in the region as well.
Malaysiakini with its dedicated team of journalists have exposed corruption and other misdeeds of those in power.
I was taken aback when Premesh came out to defend the award of transit project to his company. He said that the award was given on the grounds of competence and knowledge of the project.
As I have said, I have no reasons to doubt the defence of Premesh. But unfortunately, whether Premesh realises it or not, having the husband of a minister as the CEO is the main problem.
I am sure Premesh cannot discount that this points to an embarrassment for the Madani government at the federal and state level.
Whatever the defence of the award of the project to Asian Mobility Technologies is, the project cannot be sustained politically.
Either Yeoh has to resign from her post as a minister or the company should not accept the award of the project. Or alternatively, Ramachandran should step down from the company he co-founded with Pramesh. – May 27, 2024
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main pic credit: Digital News Asia/Hannah Yeoh Facebook
