'Sign Integrity Pacts for Klang River clean-up'

Corruption watchdog Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) wants the Selangor government to sign Integrity Pacts (IPs) with the four companies chosen to clean up the Klang River.

TI-M president Paul Low explained in a statement yesterday that the IP is a “proven anti-corruption measure that legally binds the buyer of goods and services and the supplier not to pay or receive bribes whether directly and indirectly and to observe key integrity principles in their relationship”.

Noting that the river project is a "major 15-year project that involves substantial expenditure of RM50 billion", he said the signing of IPs  with the four companies would help curb abuses and corruption and minimise costs.

"Violation of the terms of the IP is subject to sanctions such as termination of the supply contract, blacklisting and forfeiture of a performance bond," he said.

 

Last week, the state government announced that four companies - TSS-Mako Engineering Sdn Bhd, GJA Engineering & Construction, Wessex Water i-Berhad Consortium and DPZ Asia Sdn Bhd - have been selected for the project.

MB signals determination

In a statement, Selangor Menteri Bsar Khalid Ibrahim described it as a "public-private partnership”.

Senior and technical representatives of each of the three companies will form the Klang River Rehabilitation and Development Project Secretariat with the Selangor government.

Khalid also said the companies were selected based on their financial capability, experience and technical expertise in river cleaning and development.

Although efforts to clean the Klang River have been unsuccessful in the past, he added that he is determined to make this project a success.

The river has its source in the upper reaches of Ulu Klang and its mouth in Klang. It traverses areas under the jurisdiction of different local councils and, over the years, has become a convenient dump for industrial effluent and garbage.

Adjacent development activities have led to silt entering the river and hampering the flow of water.