Beleaguered by illegal sand-mining allegations, Selangor government subsidiary Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB) today signed an integrity pact together with 35 sand-mining contractors to eliminate corruption and irregularities in the industry.

KSSB is the first government-linked company (GLC) in the nation that has signed the pact.

Witnessing the signing ceremony at the Shah Alam Convention Centre, Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim announced that contractors who do not sign the pact will not be allowed to participate in the state government’s open tender contracts.

NONE According to Transparency International-Malaysia Chapter president Paul Low ( right in photo, with Khalid ), who was also present at the ceremony, the integrity pact, among others, prohibits contractors from bribing KSSB officials and makes it compulsory for them to attend anti-corruption training.

Failure to comply with the pact, Low elaborated, would result in their sand-mining contracts being terminated and they would be liable to a fine.

KSSB was formed by the Pakatan Rakyat-ruled Selangor state government in 2008 to manage the sand-mining activities in the state.

However, the company has been accused of being involved in corruption, illegal sand-mining and power abuse.