Call for transparency: Saw (second from right) handing over the memorandum to a MACC officer yesterday. — SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star
PUTRAJAYA: MCA Youth has urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to make an open and transparent investigation into the Demand-Responsive Transit (DRT) project awarded to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh’s husband.
MCA Youth submitted a memorandum to an MACC representative detailing the actions they urge the commission to take at the MACC headquarters yesterday. The memorandum stated there were 25 other ride-hailing companies licensed by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad).
“Given the similarity between DRT and ride-hailing services, MACC should investigate why these 25 companies were not invited by Apad and reasons for recommending AMT to the Selangor government,” it said.
Selangor chairman for investment, trade and mobility Ng Sze Han had said that the state government had involved only Asia Mobility Technologies and Badan Bas because they were the only companies licensed by Apad to operate a “bus-on-demand” service.
MCA Youth secretary-general Saw Yee Fung said they are unsure why Ng said that there were only two companies licensed to tender for the project, when there are 25 other similar companies.
“We hope MACC will conduct an open and transparent investigation for the entire process of awarding the DRT project, including the decision-making and approval processes.
“The MACC can also clarify the legality of awarding projects directly, and if allowed, what risk mitigation exists to prevent under the table negotiations and cronyism,” she said.
She also urged MACC to consider laws to regulate offering of government contracts to relatives of high-ranking government officials.
Saw also questioned the budget allocation for the DRT project, which she said the Selangor state government paid RM2.1mil.
“According to media reports, we calculated across nine months, the cost per passenger would amount to RM97.50.
“If such high operation costs are needed, is DRT truly cost saving?” she asked.
Saw added that there were media reports saying waiting time for DRT was excessively long.
“We hope that MACC can investigate whether the Selangor government has done appropriate cost and feasibility assessment to approve and carry out this project,” she said.
The MCA Youth had earlier lodged a police report over the DRT project on May 29.
Also present during the handing over of the memorandum were MCA Youth vice-chairman Wong Miew Kee and its Melaka state chairman Tee Tian Leng.
The DRT is a demand-based ride-sharing public transit service to improve last and first-mile connectivity for public transport services.
It is part of the RM25mil Selangor Mobiliti initiative announced during the state’s 2023 budget to improve the public transport ecosystem.
