PBS welcomes probe by Ministry on TSGP
Published on: Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: Parti Bersatu Sabah said it welcomes investigation by the Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Ministry over the Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline (TSGP) project in the State.Its Minister Yeo Bee Yin recently disclosed that the TSGP project has been suspended pending investigation on the RM3.5 billion allocation paid to an allegedly incomplete work."We welcome the investigation, and if it is proven true, we would be equally disappointed and action must be taken against those involved.ADVERTISEMENT "Charge or sack them. If the allegations are true, it is against the procedure and proper management of government fund. Until then, we will have to wait for the investigation to be completed to get the real picture," said PBS Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.Ongkili, the former minister overseeing the project, then known as the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry (KeTTHA), said the TSGP project involved building a 662km gas pipeline from the Kimanis Gas Terminal to Sandakan and Tawau, costing RM4.06 billion, in total."This project is supposed to benefit Sabah by generating power supply from the west to east coast of Sabah. It will solve our dependency on diesel and refrain us from using coal.ADVERTISEMENT "Currently, about 65 per cent of the power supply in the west coast are imported from the west coast through the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd's East-West Power Grid," Ongkili said.He said the planning of TSGP was under KeTTHA and the Prime Minister's Department's Economic Planning Unit, while the Ministry of Finance was tasked to implement the project, including appointing contractors and the finalising the budget.
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The project was also carried out on a government-to-government partnership between Malaysia and China."In KeTTHA, before the (14th general election), the project was just in the surveying and land acquisition level … so how is it possible for payout of 85 per cent work done were made? We are puzzled too."Only MoF has the details," said Ongkili.He said there had been information that the 85 per cent completed works were on certain project components such as land acquisition, consultancy and others, and not from the overall project.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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During a recent townhall session involving Sabah's energy industry here, Yeo said 88 per cent of RM4 billion has been paid out by the federal government, but nothing is done, although on paper, it is stated that the project is at 11.4 per cent completed.Ongkili, therefore, called on Yeo to release details of the alleged misappropriation by MoF pertaining to the TSGP project.