KUALA LUMPUR: PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli today claimed the company that was believed to have been awarded the self-propelled howitzer (SPH) contract and tender for the army is closely linked with parties related to a deputy minister.
In a statement through this blog (rafiziramli.com), Rafizi said records from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM), as well as an investigation made on the individuals, revealed that the company, MA Analytics Sdn Bhd, is jointly owned by the deputy minister's wife and son.
"I will reveal the proof of the company's ownership that further indicates that MA Analytics is a crony-related company tomorrow.
"I am sure the Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein is aware of this.
"If he is really concerned about the interests of the country's defence, it is timely that he takes action as the defence minister to cancel the letter of intent (LoI) to the company immediately," he said today.
While he welcomed the feedback made by Hishammuddin yesterday on the ongoing tender process, Rafizi said the contract on the procurement of SPH for the army could still be awarded to MA Analytics if the government's decision through the LoI is not cancelled.
"The government should also go back to the limited tender process as advised by the Defence Ministry, according to the weaponry specifications set by the army," he said.
On Oct 4, the former Pandan member of parliament claimed that the procurement of SPH for the army, involving an allocation of RM854 million, was not done through a limited tender, but allegedly awarded directly to a company that had just been established two years prior.
Rafizi claimed that the prime minister and finance minister ordered that a direct tender be awarded to MA Analytics, despite them having no experience in the field.
He also claimed that the Defence Ministry made an application to the Finance Ministry for the procurement to be carried out according to a limited tender, as per practice in the procurement of defence equipment.
However, according to Rafizi, the application was rejected.
In response, Hishammuddin yesterday said no contract had been awarded as yet, with negotiations on the matter between the Defence and Finance ministries still ongoing.