KUCHING: A state government-linked company is mulling legal action against Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian and other Sarawak opposition leaders for allegedly misleading the public over the controversy surrounding repair works of a flat in Miri.
Housing Development Corporation (HDC) chairman Datuk Dr Abang Abdul Rauf Abang Zen claimed Baru and other state PKR and DAP leaders had twisted the facts over the case, which is now being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
In a press conference at the company headquarters here today, Rauf said state opposition leaders had omitted key facts over the case, which was raised in the Auditor General’s Report 2016, made public on Jul 31.
“It was very unfair to say the RM2.88 million was solely meant for repainting works on 12 units of houses of the flat. The truth is that the multi-million ringgit contract was meant for repair and repainting works for thousands of units of houses.
“The contractor, appointed via open tender by the Federal government, had completed works for 2,360 units of houses. The actual cost of repainting works for the houses, which could not be completed after it was badly damaged by fire, only amounted to RM11,969,” he said.
Rauf said he would put forth a motion to sue the opposition leaders who were found to have “corrupted” the facts over the case during the company’s board of directors’ meeting in the first week of September.
“The accusations made by the opposition over the project are politically motivated and they are using this case as their target for the coming general election.
“They are trying to implicate Chief Minister (Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg) who was previously the minister-in-charge for the housing portfolio.
“I want to warn DAP and PKR.. If they want to get votes (for the next general election), please talk about the truth,” he said.
Asked on why HDC only came forward after two of its officers were arrested by MACC to facilitate a probe into the case, Rauf said the company does not want to jeopardise the commission’s effort.
He admitted that there were shortcomings in HDC’s work process but gave his assurance that the company had initiated measures to recover the amount allegedly paid for the incomplete work before the matter was raised in the Auditor General’s report.
“In fact, the management had decided to claim the amount (RM11,969) from the contractor for failure to complete the work on 12 units of houses.
“At the moment, HDC is still in possession of the retention money for construction, amounting to RM128,000. We will deduct the amount from the retention money if the contractor denies our request,” he said.
It was reported that a senior technician and engineer, aged 59 and 39 respectively, attached with HDC were remanded for seven days to assist the probe under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009 for making false claims.
They were among four people, including the main contractor and subcontractor allegedly appointed for the repair works.
The subcontractor, in his late 40s, have been remanded for five days to facilitate investigation into the case.
The main contractor was not remanded as he would be performing his hajj next week. The suspect, 49, however, has been placed under close watch by MACC.