MACC investigating reports of monopoly over govt tenders
Bernama
-August 25, 2019 10:48 PM
MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya.KUALA TERENGGANU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will investigate those who plot and monopolise the bidding for government projects, MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya said today.
She acknowledged that the MACC had received numerous reports about government tenders and procurement cases and the matter had received MACC’s attention and action.
“There are many reports of cases regarding tenders and so on received but the MACC cannot disclose this information as it is likely to interfere with the investigation,” she told reporters here.
She was commenting on a local newspaper report today that revealed at least 10 government projects worth millions of ringgit, were now under investigation by the Malaysia Competition Commission as the company that had won the tender was suspected of plotting a bid to cause a loss of public funds.
Earlier today Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said contractors found to have been ganging up to form cartels to win government contracts will have stern action taken against them. He said using such tactics was a clear violation of laws. “If there is a cartel, then we cannot allow it as we want fair competition,” he said.
Latheefa was here for an anti-corruption event for young people. She said the Gohek Beskal and Khabak Merdeka 2019 Programme was an MACC initiative to combat corruption among young people.
She said corruption cases involving young people were worrying and one of the main factors for the problem was the lack of awareness of corruption among them.
“We will increase prevention-type programmes aside from carrying out operations or arrests, we want to emphasise on programmes that are more educational and preventive,” said Latheefa, who also climbed the summit of Bukit Besar with about 100 local youths.
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