99.7% of projects benefit Taib’s family’ & Sarawakians remains poor

August 15, 2012

Sarawak DAP is demanding to know SUPP's stand on the monopoly of construction projects by the Taib Mahmud family.

KUCHING: Some 99.7% of the bridges built in Sarawak were undertaken by Titanium Project Management Sdn Bhd, a company owned by Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s son Mahmud Abu Bekir.
The bridges which were designed and built by Titanium were collectively worth RM1.395 billion and funded by the state government, according to Sarawak DAP.
Titanium is owned by Abu Bekir who holds 51% of the shares. The other shareholders are Chung Soon Nam (41%) and Michael Ting Kuok Ngie (8%).
Pointing this out, Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen said that for the past five years from 2007 to 2011, the state government had only awarded three contracts for bridges.
The design and construction of bridges and culverts to replace temporary and semi-permanent council and PWD structures worth RM1,178,410,000.00 was awarded to Titanium with no open tender.
The other two contracts which were awarded to Woodville were the construction of Sungai Sarawak Bridge at Isthmus Kuching worth RM213 million and the construction of Sungai Miri Bridge and associated works at Piasau worth RM4.5 million.
Chong, who is the Kota Sentosa assemblyman and Bandar Kuching MP, said the contract awarded to Titanium ought to have been broken down by individual bridges and shared with other contractors.
“If you look at the value of the contracts given out in the five years, 99.7% goes to Titanium.
“It benefits the chief minister’s son only. The three contracts alone were worth RM1.395 billion
“The construction of Sungai Sarawak Bridge linking the Isthmus with Kuching also indirectly benefits the chief minister’s family as the whole of Isthmus of 275 acres is owned by CMS, which is owned by his family,” Chong said.
He added that the Sungai Sarawak bridge would improve accessibility to the Isthmus area through the Kuching Port.
“This is not only monopolising the state projects, but the benefits of the contracts are also being monopolised.
“This is really shocking.
“Why is SUPP [Sarawak United People's Party] silent on this? Being part of the state government, what is SUPP’s stand on this?
“We have posed this question to SUPP, and a month has passed. It has remained mum and dumb over this question.
“SUPP is in the government so does it agree to the monopoly on the project?” asked Chong.