Press Statement
by Teng Chang Khim, DAP Selangor Vice Chairman and State
Assemblyman for Bandar Klang
on 8.10.2002
in Klang, Selangor
Khir Toyo must answer why the proposed annex to the State Assembly building should cost RM50.5 million
Selangor Menteri Besar, Dato Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, owes the people an explanation as to why the proposed annex to the existing Selangor State Assembly building should cost RM50.5 million.
The letter of acceptance of the tender for the new building had been executed by Khir Toyo personally on 19.8.2002 and delivered to the successful contractor, Perwira Bintang Holdings Sdn Bhd of Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya.
While agreeing that the existing State Assembly building needs to be upgraded to provide better facilities such as space for library and conference rooms, the cost of RM50.5 million for an annex to the existing building is obviously exorbitant.
The Selangor State Assembly meets 3 times a year with a total of less than 10 days of meeting. Take 2002 as an example, besides the half day opening ceremony officiated by the Sultan, the State Assembly sat for only 1 ½ day on the 1st and 2nd day of April. On 15.7.2002, the mid-year meeting lasted for half a day. Although the State Assembly has been scheduled to sit for 4 days in the coming budget meeting from the 21st to the 24th this month, going by the record of the previous years, it will only last for 3 days. Even if it could last for 4 days this year, it would mean the Selangor State Assembly actually sits only for 6 days in 2002!
Over the past 7 years in the State Assembly, I had repeatedly urged the government not to limit the time to only 15 minutes for each of the members to deliver their speeches especially while they were participating in the policy debate on the Royal addresses and the budgets. 15 minutes for each member is simply too insufficient to deliver a speech of substance. Unfortunately, my calls had been falling on the deaf ears. Such a lackadaisical and contemptuous attitude towards the State Assembly meetings simply does not match the enthusiasm shown by the Selangor State Government now to spend RM50.5 million for an annex to the existing State Assembly building.
Besides the issue of construction cost, it is imperative for Khir Toyo to answer the following questions:-
(a) Why did he take such a great interest to sign the letter of acceptance of the tender personally?
I agree that by virtue of the procedures and requirements, for tenders worth more than RM10 million, only the State Secretary and the Menteri Besar are the alternate authorized signatories to the letter of acceptance of tenders. However, records have shown that in such tenders Khir Toyo’s signatures are usually seen and thus unusually more than that of the career civil servant, i.e. the State Secretary.
(b) Why was the contractor allowed and so willing to take over the site on 1.6.2002 even before the letter of acceptance of the tender was issued on 19.8.2002 and, of course, well before the date of the Contract Agreement which has not been executed?
During my visit to the State Assembly building last week, I discovered that the contractor had in fact started the earthwork sometime ago. This is exceptionally efficient as the contractor might have had not received the deposit of RM5 million from the State Government before they started the earthwork. What made the contractor so certain that they would eventually be given the job that they were so willing to take over the site in June and started their work without first obtaining the letter of acceptance of tender and the deposit of RM5 million?
Until and unless the Menteri Besar clears the air, the people are entitled to cast a doubt on the necessity, the price, and the tender exercise of the project. I urge the Menteri Besar to give an immediate and acceptable explanation to the people or I will have to lodge a report with the relevant authority to initiate a thorough