Direct-nego projects: MOT lodges police report against SabahKini2

KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry (MOT) has lodged a police report against Sabahkini2 news portal for publishing an allegedly defamatory article which linked its secretary-general to the awarding of projects under the ministry through direct-negotiation.

In a statement issued today, the ministry refuted the claim and said that it would seek legal advice in pursuing the next course of action.

It said it is the Finance Ministry that is responsible for approving procurement through direct negotiations.

"The tender on 'Perolehan 10 Set (6 Car) Electric Train Set (ETS) Baharu' was advertised on Jan 23, 2020. After the tender period was closed, only three tenderers submitted proposals and the Tender Evaluation Report was presented to the Procurement Board on June 23, 2020.

"All the tenderers did not meet the passing marks for the financial and technical evaluation because they did not meet the criteria set out in the tender document," it said.

As such, it said, the government proposed a process through direct negotiations since the process for re-tender would take time, as well as the difficulty in getting companies that are registered under the train manufacturing category.

It said the government set the department's estimate for the project procurement at RM587 million, but the procurement through direct negotiation with the company that was awarded the contract was RM456 million, a saving of RM131 million.

The statement was issued following a report by Sabahkini2 on April 1 last year with the tittle, "Dulu di MOTAC disiasat SPRM kini di MOT KSU buat 'Runding Terus KTMB' untuk kroni?"

-- BERNAMA