MP questions RM77mil contract for Hisham's brother
Malaysiakini – 20 hours ago
DAP lawmaker Tony Pua today questioned Putrajaya's granting of a RM77 million contract to the brother of Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.
The Petaling Jaya Utara MP said the liquor security-labelling contract was awarded to Haris Onn Hussein ( right ) by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department.
"The government must explain why a company belonging to the relative of a minister is given a contract through direct negotiation," Pua told a press conference in the Parliament lobby.
The contract granted to Haris' firm Lembah Sari Sdn Bhd was first highlighted by The Edge, which reported that the company will design, print, store, supply and distribute banderols (tax stamps) for liquor from 2014 to 2019.
It will also supply authentication devices to the Customs Department as well as providing the necessary training. The system is aimed at combating the smuggling of liquor.
Pua asked the government to justify its contract given to the company and whether it had offered the lowest price.
He added that the company had previously caused an uproar due to the high charge it imposed for a similar system meant for cigarettes.
"Will this security label prevent smuggling of liquor?
"The security labels on cigarettes have proven ineffective to stop smuggling," he said, quoting the British American Tobacco company's claim that said one in three packs of cigarette in the country were smuggled.
He added that if the system cannot help combat smuggling, the government would better spend money on other methods to stop such activities.
