Probe Raja Petra’s claims that PKR sought US$10mil kickback from developer

Press statement by YB Wong Koon Mun, MCA State Liaison Committee Secretary and state Assemblyman for Kuala Kubu Baru

Probe Raja Petra’s claims that PKR sought US$10mil kickback from developer

The allegations unfurled by blogger Raja Petra that a developer was asked to donate US$ 10 million to a PKR leader whom he had approached to help move a stalled project are serious and warrant investigation by higher authorities like MACC and the police.

In his blog posting on 15 Mar 12, Raja Petra alleged that the PKR leader had told the company Azam dan Azan Sdn Bhd (AASB) to seek RM70million in compensation from the state government over losses suffered from its completed project in Selayang and to abandon Phases 2 and 3 of the project as “the land is going to be given to a PKR leader to take over.” The Malaysia Today portal also alleged that upon receiving the RM70million compensation, US$10million is to be “donated” to PKR as “election fund”, although a closes analysis of the terminology “donation” can be construed as “kickback.”

This is not the first time that allegations of graft or cronyism are practised by the Pakatan Rakyat-helmed Selangor state government. Other alleged cases which have surfaced include:

• Legal firms of PKR Members of Parliament like S. Sivarasa and Lateefa Koya were appointed to handle the legal work for Majlis Bandar Petaling Jaya (Petaling Jaya City Council) as highlighted in Raja Petra’s website.
• Between 2008 and 2010, RM250million worth of contracts were awarded on a negotiated and non-tender basis, also has highlighted in Raja Petra’s website.
• Contractors bidding for projects must get the official seal and signature only by Pakatan Rakyat Members of Parliament or state assemblymen in the official forms.

If the PKR-led Selangor state government has any credibility, it should immediately conduct an internal probe and make public its findings. Otherwise, what is the point of Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) hearings?

During their 2008 general elections, PKR promised to end all form of political interferences in businesses. But in Selangor, they have allegedly interfered to the maximum where even the sandmining industry is monopolized by them, and even then, many complexities arise and financial losses suffered.

Pakatan Rakyat parties repeatedly tout transparency, clean governance and to wipe out corruption. Such values are also eschewed in the famed Buku Jingga. But if Raja Petra’s allegations hold water, then PKR’s practices in soliciting donations are tantamount to blackmail or bribery in exchange for favours. In just one short term, PKR has succumbed to the very vices they pledged they would stem out.

YB Wong Koon Mun
MCA State Liaison Committee Secretary
State Assemblyman for Kuala Kubu Baru