DAP challenges Julaihi to unveil contract details in three days

KUCHING: DAP state assemblyman for Padungan Wong King Wei has challenged Assistant Minister for Coastal Road Datuk Julaihi Narawi to disclose all the details in awarding contracts for two upcoming projects - the Coastal Road and Second Trunk Road - believed to be worth RM5 billion and RM6 billion respectively.

DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen had recently highlighted that these two major state projects are going to be awarded to two companies without open tender.

Julaihi had on Thursday denied the allegation and said the two projects are still being finalised. He also disputed the contract sum as alleged.

Responding to Julaihi, Wong said it is certain from Julaihi’s statement that both projects will not be awarded in open tender form as there was no denial from Julaihi on that point.

“YB Julaihi is evading the main issue raised by YB Chong, that is the transparency in awarding contracts.

“Why is there no open tender for major projects of this kind?” he asked in a press statement issued on Friday.

Wong condemned state Barisan National government for refusing to practise transparency in awarding government contracts.

“The practice of cronyism and favouritism is still continuing in Barisan National state government administration despite the recent directive by the new Pakatan Harapan federal government that requires all the major government contracts to be awarded in open tender”.

Wong added that the two projects will cost the state RM11 billion in total which is a very substantial amount equivalent to 1/3 of the State reserve fund. It should not be awarded by direct negotiation, he argued.

Wong now demands that Julaihi disclose all details of the two projects in three days’ including but not limited to, the status in awarding the said projects and the identity of the companies which are in the shortlist of the state government.