Civil servants in ‘cartel projects’

High profile cases show them in cahoots with contractors, says Macc

PETALING JAYA: A number of high profile cases have emerged in Malaysia, showing how senior civil servants were in cahoots with contractors on “cartel projects” that involved millions of ringgit.

The Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission (MACC), in detailing several cases over the past few years, said that those involved were not just lower ranking staff.

“For example, the MACC arrested 11 individuals including police and civil servants last month for their alleged involvement in a syndicate that reduced traffic summons, recording transactions of over Rm5mil since 2016,” said senior director of MACC’S Special Operations Division Datuk Tan Kang Sai.

And in September, he said the MACC raided the office of a city council to investigate a flood mitigation mega project that was valued in the hundreds of millions of ringgits.

“Eight individuals, seven council officers and a contractor, were remanded to assist that investigation,” he said in a statement.

Tan also listed a case last year in which two former local council presidents in Selangor were remanded for six days for allegedly receiving bribes from a project contractor and housing developer.

They were also believed to have accepted, among others, a Rm1mil house, RM500,000 in cash and a holiday to Europe for approving the planning and development for a housing development company.

Based on the facts of the case, he said the two former local council presidents would be given a reward of 5% of the value of the project.

He said a contractor, who was believed to have given bribes to get hold of projects offered by the two city councils, had been remanded as well.

“The existence of these syndicates and monopoly cartels between public servants and private contractors have become their modus operandi.”

Tan urged the public to play their part in combating such cartels by being the MACC’S eyes and ears.

“Do not be afraid to report corrupt activities to the MACC. We will ensure confidentiality,” he said, citing the Whistleblowers Protection Act.

Furthermore, he said that failure to report any graft cases could also lead to action taken under the Malaysian Anti-corruption Act.