“Will public pressure lead to the eventual scrapping of Selangor DRT deal?”

Focus Malaysia:

“Will public pressure lead to the eventual scrapping of Selangor DRT deal?”

By Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy

SELANGOR Menteri Besar Datuk Serti Amirudin Shari is willing to disclose all relevant information pertaining to the award of direct response transit system (DRT) to the two awardee companies – Asian Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd and BadanBas Coach Sdn Bhd.

I am not sure the mere provision of details regarding the DRT pilot project, why the two companies were chosen or why the direct negotiation method was adopted.

But why the open tender was sidelined maybe not be able to sidestep the main problematic issues of no open tender and the award of the contract to Asian Mobility whose CEO Ramachandran Muniandy is the husband of Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.

I really cannot understand how the disclosure of detailed information could possibly correct the two fundament wrongs.

Amirudin can explain all he wants with facts and figures. In fact, he should get detailed information from the federal agency Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) as to why it approved the two companies in the first place.

On the other hand, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook seems not bothered about why his ministry approved the DRT pilot project to the two companies.

He cannot wash his hands knowing that his DAP comrade Yeoh is the wife of Asian Mobiliti head honcho Ramachandran.

Surely, the Transport Ministry (MOT) would have known of the family links between Ramachandran and Yeoh before the approval was given.


MACC opens case

Amirudin seems to falsely function on the idea the provision of the detailed information on the DRT project would serve to mitigate the twin issues of the lack of open tender and the allegations of nepotism, cronyism and favouritism.

I think he is clearly mistaken that that the mere provision of data on the DRT pilot project would sink the controversy over the absence of an open tender and the practice of cronyism or nepotism.

It is strange that the DAP leaders who took a strong stand against nepotism and cronyism in the past – including Yeoh herself – are observing a deafening silence on the matter.

The leader of the DAP women’s wing Teo Nie Ching came out in support of Yeoh completely closing her eyes to the nefarious system of direct negotiations and ignoring the family links in the award of the project.

I suppose DAP is not the same party as before, power, positions and perks (3Rs) must have blinded their eyes to distinguish better what is wrong and what if right.

If DAP can embrace its historical enemy UMNO the root of all wrongs during the Barisan Nasional (BN) days, then no further explanation is necessary.

The moral posture the DAP adopted when it was in the opposition is all gone with the wind.

I urge the Selangor state government and MOT – particularly APAD – not to take the Malaysian public for granted.

Whatever is dished out to support the award of the two companies might not be accepted. The public wants nothing less than the termination of the DRT award.

What else could be acceptable to the Malaysian public? Now that the MACC thinks that there is prima facie (apparently new information) evidence, investigation will be carried out.

New information or not, public pressure is the main reason why the anti-graft enforcement agency is re-opening the case.

Recent reports to the MACC by Selangor chapter of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) and the MCA could be the reason why the MACC has changed its stand. – June 1, 2024



Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.