Why put RM155 mln in ‘sick’ project, Yong asks S’wak govt

SARAWAK government was yesterday asked why it had injected RM155 million into Zecon Medicare Sdn Bhd through the purchase of 49 per cent of its equity shares, knowing that Petra Jaya Hospital project is a ‘sick’ project.

Violet Yong ( DAP- Pending) said the project was supposed to be completed on Nov 29, 2016 but postponed twice to June 30, 2018.

“I believe Sarawak government is fully aware that the Petra Jaya hospital project had long been overdue for completion yet the Sarawak Finance Secretary decided to go ahead with pumping in RM155 million to purchase the shares of Zecon Medicare.

“At that time, the project was completed around 33 per cent instead of fully completed as scheduled. Furthermore, it was all within the state’s knowledge that the delay, apart from lacking of funds, was due to shortage of manpower,” she said when debating the Head of State’s official opening address.

Yong further alleged that the Sarawak government was also aware that the top management of the contractor — Zecon Medicare - was not committed to implementing the project.

Given these issues, she said the decision of Sarawak government had created many doubts among Sarawakians.

“We Sarawakians cannot tolerate the way Sarawak government dealt with the whole matter and demand a full explanation whether there was any due diligence exercise or risk management study carried out before the decision to purchase the equity shares of Zecon Medicare,” she said.

She wondered why Zecon Medicare was so special in the sense that Sarawak government was willing to “dump in RM155 million to salvage the contract deal”.

“Since the federal government has terminated the contract of Zecon Medicare, who is going to be responsible for the loss of RM155 million of the taxpayers’ money? Is this the end of the story for the RM155 million from our state’s coffer?

“What were the reasons for the payment of RM108 million in one lump sum right before the 14th general election when there was only one per cent progress in the project from the first payment dated last December?” questioned Yong.

She urged Sarawak government to practise transparency over the issue and not to sweep it underneath the carpet.

She said Sarawak government must be accountable for every sen spent from the state’s coffer, adding that Sarawakians are expecting ‘truthful answers’ from Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who also holds the portfolio of Finance Minister.