IT IS utterly preposterous for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to dismiss allegations of wrongdoing on the part of the Selangor state government to award the transport-related project to Asian Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd whose CEO Ramachandran Muniandy is the husband of Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
How could the graft buster’s chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki dismiss allegations of cronyism or favouritism without even a preliminary investigation?
Sure enough, it was the Selangor state government and related Federal agencies that awarded the project to Asian Mobility Technologies and one other company.
Yeoh was not part of the department or the ministry that awarded the project to the company helmed by her husband.
Hence, Azam has simplistically concluded from reading media publications that Yeoh, her husband or the awarding agency did no wrong.
This is the first time I am hearing that the MACC depends on the media to decide whether to investigate a case or not.
No case
A hefty amount of taxpayers’ money – which could run into millions of ringgit – are spent to remunerate those on the payroll of the MACC. This does not include the purchase of modern technology in assisting the investigation process.
With all these facilities, Azam has the temerity to publicly announce that there is no case against Yeoh, her husband Ramachandran and the awarding agency, the state government and some federal agencies. In other words, there was no power abuse at all.
Immaterial of what was published in the media, the MACC could have initiated its own investigation process.
It could have enquired why the Selangor state government and the related Federal transport agencies awarded the project on the basis of direct negotiations with the two companies rather than opt for the preferential transparent model of an open tender system.
Prima facie is a basis for the MACC to investigate the manner and nature in which the project was awarded.
Surely, the Selangor state government or the selection committee would have known about the individuals involved in the two companies and what was the link between the Asian Mobility Technologies CEO and Yeoh who is also the DAP Segambut MP.
I am not saying anything about the competency of the company, the individuals involved and whether they had the necessary expertise. I am also not saying that Yeoh had an invisible hand in the awarding of the project to the company that was helmed by her husband.
Justification unacceptable
Even if Yeoh has no role in the awarding of the project to her husband’s company, public perception of wrongdoing is something that will linger for some time. It would be difficult to dispel suspicions and doubts without a proper investigative preferably by the MACC.
This is why the MACC cannot dismiss the allegations of wrongdoings on the part of the company before a preliminary investigation is conducted, and definitively not to dismiss the case on the ground of media reports.
The MACC remains a central graft agency in the country. Earlier, there had been allegations against Azam for dabbling in the purchase of shares.
After the present government came to power, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim decided to retain him as the chief of the MACC and lately he has been given a second extension. The MACC has also been accused of selective prosecution by the opposition.
I am not sure why Anwar keeps Azam as the anti-graft body’s chief. His dismissal of the case against Asian Mobility Technologies is not something acceptable without even a preliminary investigation.
Anwar should rethink of continuing with the services of Azam as the MACC head honcho. His justification for dismissing the case against Asian Mobility Technologies is not acceptable. – May 28, 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.
