> DAP: Don't approve Eurocopter deal without PAC nod and Pakatan lodges ACA report against Najib

The DAP has called on Parliament not to approve the RM2.3 billion Eurocopter deal if it is not cleared by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

This follows the party's earlier statement that the deal should be suspended pending the investigations which begins with a two-day hearing on Oct 29 and 30.

"If the PAC and Parliament disapprove of the Eurocopter deal but the government persists in going ahead with the procurement, then Parliament should refuse to approve a single ringgit  for the RM2.3 billon Eurocopters," its parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said today.

He issued a press statement saying that the PAC should table its report on the purchase of the 12 Cougar EC725 helicopters by the end of November.

This is to allow MPs to study and decide whether to have a full debate of the PAC report before the end of the budget meeting on Dec 18, as the Standing Orders of Parliament requires a 14-day notice for filing such a motion.

The Ipoh Timur MP, while doubtful as to whether a two-day hearing would be sufficient, insisted that the PAC must acquire independent expert advice and speak to representatives from the seven parties which tendered bids to replace the RMAF's old Nuri helicopters.

Relying on the Defence Ministry and the Royal Malaysian Air Force alone would make "nonsense of an independent, professional parliamentary scrutiny," he said.

"It is not only MPs but the entire nation which is waiting for the outcome of the PAC scrutiny, as it is playing a very important role in the final decision whether the government should go through with the RM2.3 billion Eurocopter deal," he declared.

Calling it the "most important investigation in PAC history, as for the first time since Merdeka 51 years ago, a major government contract will hinge on the report," he said it should find out if "gold plating" - the act of adding unnecessary features to raise prices - had occurred instead of acquiring more lower-end choppers to offer better availability and service coverage.

Lim also asked for the probe to reveal which local company is the middleman and the provider for maintenance and training.

Meanwhile, the Pakatan Rakyat Youth wings yesterday lodged a report at the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) headquarters here against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for alleged involvement in the RM2.3 billion Eurocopter helicopter deal.

"We want them to open an investigation against Najib," said PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar who led the group which included DAP Youth secretary Anthony Loke and Pas Youth secretary Ahmad Sabki Yusuf.

The three representatives said they submitted several documents to assist the ACA, including a research paper over a similar purchase for the military helicopters by Brazil but for a significantly reduced sum.

Malaysia is reported to have signed a letter of intent to acquire 12 Eurocopter EC727 Cougar helicopters for a sum of RM2.3 billion while Brazil paid US$1.2 billion for 50 units of the same model.

The PR Youth want the ACA to mount an investigation over the price discrepancy in two Eurocopter deals as well as to investigate a letter of intent regarding another complaint letter purportedly sent by one Datuk Zahar Hashim, the chairman of Mentari Services Sdn Bhd which is the local representative for a Russian helicopter company.

In his letter, Zahar, a retired airforce captain, had claimed that Eurocopter had been awarded the contract to replace the ageing Nuri fleet even though it was the most expensive bid among the companies which tendered for the contract.

According to Loke, they were the first group to lodge an official complaint against the DPM over this particular matter even though the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Parliament had spoken about the issue recently.

"PAC is only a security filter with no investigative power. The most suitable body to undertake this investigation is the ACA," said Loke, who is also the MP for Rasah.

Shamsul added that the onus is now on ACA to take action.

"We told them to be proactive. There is no reason for the ACA not to open an investigation," he said.

Shamsul also called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi to live up to his promise to implement his promised reforms, particularly in dealing with corruption, before he leaves office in March next year - The Malaysian Insider.

 

It is an insult to the PAC, the Parliament and the Malaysian public if this deal was to go through without proper approvals - My Journal.