NO DOUBLE STANDARD IN ENSURING OPEN TENDER IN PAKATAN STATE PROJECTS - PENANG WIFI PROJECT

I refer to the statement by the Penang government today that it was willing to consider an alternative firm to carry out the state’s free WiFi initiative, but only if it accepted the conditions imposed on the current operating company.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng explained that the only reason why the current operating company had been offered to carry out phase two of the project “without an open tender” was because it was the only company that had applied for and qualified for the award.

This was in response to criticism of Penang Pakatan Rakyat government in not holding open tender for the RM8.49 million Penang WiFi project.

[ Source: The Malaysian Insider 31st March, 2011 ]

Prior to this, I have stated that the refusal by Penang Pakatan Rakyat government to hold an open tender for the RM8.49 million Penang WiFi project was contrary to their election pledge, including their promises made in Pakatan Rakyat Common Policies Framework and their recently announced Orange Book. Such a move would create more precedent for Pakatan Rakyat to renege on their election pledge and to “arbitrarily” depart from policies assured to Malaysians.

With due respect to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng:-

1. the state’s decision to consider granting the WiFi project to other companies on same terms as those given to current operating company does not absolve Pakatan Rakyat from fulfilling their pledge to hold Open Tender for their state project. Penang Pakatan Rakyat should not self presume that the current offer is the best deal for the state. This should be confirmed transparently via Open Tender.

2. it is not for him or Pakatan Rakyat to also self presume that there is only one (1) company that interested and qualified for the state project. This should also be confirmed transparently via Open Tender.

As this matter involves promises made by Pakatan Rakyat in their Common Policies Framework and their recently announced Orange Book, it is pertinent now for Pakatan Rakyat’s de facto leader Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim to explain why no action are taken by him against Pakatan Rakyat states that refuse to adhere to their promises to hold Open Tender for all state projects.

Pakatan Rakyat should not practice double standards when comes to administering Open Tenders in their own states.