Pua dares Mukhriz to distribute IPP contracts to MPs
By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — DAP MP Tony Pua today demanded Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir to back his claim that all MPs are allowed access to the confidential independent power producer (IPP) agreements by distributing copies in Parliament next week.
The Petaling Jaya MP expressed doubt however that the Umno deputy minister would dare to do so, and described the latter’s statement yesterday as “utter bunkum”.
“Despite being a first term parliamentarian, I can say with certainty that the above statement by Mukhriz is complete and utter bunkum.
“MPs are not privy to documents protected under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and have no immunity over the possession (even if it is for 5 minutes),” Pua said in a statement today.
He was commenting on Mukhriz’s statement to reporters yesterday that details of the contentious IPP agreements can be requested by MPs to safeguard public interest since lawmakers represent voters.
“In Parliament, if an MP can ask for anything. You know we are all very transparent about it. If it is within the boundaries of the law then so be it but it is still up to what is said in the agreement,” the deputy minister of international trade and industry had said.
But Pua insisted today that for any MP to gain access to such documents, the Cabinet would first have to initiate a declassification process.
A person found in possession of such secret documents, he added, would be liable to punishment — a mandatory one year jail term or up to seven years imprisonment.
Pua reminded Mukhriz of how tolled highway concession contracts and the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) contracts had only been made accessible to MPs after a lengthy declassification exercise by the Cabinet and Attorney-General.
He added that Mukhriz’s statement also contradicted Energy, Water and Green Technology Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui’s announcement last week that the government had no power to release the documents.
“He said that this is because they are agreements signed between ‘private entities’. Who is telling the truth, and who is lying?,” Pua asked.
Despite this, the DAP national publicity chief said he hoped he could be proven wrong and told Mukhriz to distribute the IPP agreements when Parliament opens on Monday.
“Give each MP a copy of the IPP agreement, attached with an undertaking from the Attorney-General that MPs are not punishable under the OSA for having possession of these documents.
