Warisan asks Pairin if contract is true
Published on: Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Newly-formed Parti Warisan Sabah (PWS) has sought clarification on an alleged copy of a contract between the Sabah Water Department and a private company with the supposed value being close to RM2 million a month for 20 years.Its Vice President-cum-Likas Assemblyman Junz Wong said the contract sighted on social media shows RM1,956,364.58 for the company to operate, maintain and manage river intakes and water treatment plants at Tuaran, Sipitang and Beaufort."This translates into a staggering yearly sum of approximately RM24 million for one contract for 20 years," he told a press conference, here, Tuesday.
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The contract supposedly signed in 2011 is believed to be one of dozens of similar contracts signed with private companies to treat and reticulate potable water in the State.Wong said it is believed that 71 of the 83 water treatment plants in the State have been privatised which means that at least 71 similar contracts have been signed."I would like to hear from our Infrastructure Development Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan if this contract is real. If it is, I want to know if the value is fair and RM24m a year justifiable?
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Wong asked why the Sabah Water Department was willing to outsource most if not all of the water treatment plants built under the National Key Result Areas or NKRA and Government Transformation Programme or GTP to corporations outside of the Government."Not only does the public have the right to know every detail on how their taxes are spent and their assets are managed, the Sabah Water Department should explain whether it is a fair deal for Sabahans.
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"Moreover, how qualified this company is and who the real owners are," he said.Wong said it is important for every government agency to be transparent and accountable in order to salvage their image and regain public confidence following the recent corruption scandal involving Sabah Water Department."I'm asking Pairin whether he was aware of the existence of the contract and whether one or several contracts have actually been awarded to the company."He cannot continue to claim that he is not aware of what is happening in his Ministry. He owes it to Sabahans that the mystery of the RM 3.3 billion funding scandal will not be swept under the carpet.Wong said there is talk that the company belonged to relatives of a top department official who is a key suspect in the MACC graft probe.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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