How Is Public-Funded Project An Official Secret?

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has come to the defence of the party’s strategic director Rafizi Ramli over his revelation that a company set to be awarded the Ampang LRT extension project has failed an independent evaluation, and called on police to focus on prime minister Najib Razak instead.

Rafizi, who earlier revealed documents to prove that Najib had interfered in the procurement process of the project, is being investigated by the police under the Official Secrets Act.

“This shows that the investigation by the highest level of police force against Rafizi is aimed to protect the prime minister and harass Rafizi. He has exposed an abuse of public fund. He must be credited and not prosecuted,” stressed Azizah.

Rafizi made the exposure following a report on June 22 by the Business Times, a publication of UMNO-controlled media group New Straits Times Press, which predicted that George Kent would be awarded the project.

Rafizi then cited an evaluation carried out by renowned engineering consultant Halcrow on behalf of engineering consultant company for the project, HSS Integrated, which concludes that George Kent is technically and commercially not suitable to be considered for the Ampang LRT project.

This prompted federal Criminal Investigation Department director Bakri Zinin to form a special task force to investigate how the documents could be ‘leaked’.

“Why a public infrastructure project paid using people’s money is considered national secret? Will the details threaten national security?” asked Azizah, adding that if the police could salvage what little credibility they had by investigate Najib’s role in the RM1 billion project. –Harakahdaily

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