PETALING JAYA: The decisive actions taken by enforcement agencies, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), show the government’s determination to fight corruption and misappropriation, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Speaking at a gathering with staff members of the Prime Minister’s Department here yesterday, the Prime Minister cited the probe into a corruption case involving the procurement and management of the government’s fleet of vehicles worth RM4.5bil.
“All of you were involved in the use of Spanco facilities, and my stance on it has been firm since I became the Finance Minister.
“So, investigate, I don’t know where the fault lies, but I know the regulations are not right, I know it harms the country, I know it doesn’t please civil servants, but we were helpless, unable to do anything because there was no political will and determination to act,” he said, Bernama reported.
Since 1993, Spanco Sdn Bhd had been the sole company to hold the concession to supply and maintain government vehicles.
However, when the contract ended in 2019, an open tender was launched for the next contract award.
Berjaya Group and Naza Sdn Bhd formed a consortium and obtained the contract through a letter of intent (LOI) that year.
However, the LOI was terminated in 2020, and the tender was awarded to Spanco.
In July last year, Berjaya founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan filed a suit against the Finance Ministry and Spanco regarding the terminated LOI, alleging that the contract was awarded to Spanco even though the company’s offered price was higher. This prompted the MACC to open an investigation into the issue.