Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang in Petaling Jaya on Sunday, 22^nd November 2009: 

Will Tsu Koon dare to urge in Cabinet for open tender for building-for-land deal involving 65 acres of prime land in KL with gross development value of RM15 billion for building a RM628 million Matrade expo centre, warning Najib of adverse KPI and NKRA in combating corruption?

In his first month as Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak received praise and applause for his assurance that he would cut down on direct negotiations for government procurement contracts and instead adopt the tender system on efforts to curb corruption and restore public confidence in the government.

The award of the building-for-land deal to Naza TTDI Sdn Bhd involving 65 acres of prime land in Kuala Lumpur with a gross development value of RM15 billion for building a RM628 million Matrade expo centre has dashed public hopes and expectations that Najib is serious about open tenders, accountability, transparency and the war against corruption.

As combating corruption is one of the six National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) announced by Najib, is the Key Performance Index (KPI) Minister, dare Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon raise in Cabinet urging for a review and to ask for the Matrade building-for-land deal to be submitted to open tender to ensure that the government and the public obtains the best deal.

As KPI Minister, is Koh prepared to notify the Cabinet that the KPI and NKRA of the Najib administration for combating corruption would be adversely affected if the deal exchanging RM628 million Matrade centre for land worth RM15billion gross development value is pushed through without being submitted to open tender – as well as a review of the need for another convention centre when available convention centres like the RM600 million Putrajaya International Convention Centre is grossly underutilized?

*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor