The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) has denied a PKR leader’s allegation that it had given Pahang-based company NSE Resources Corporation a RM100 million grant for research and development purposes.

At a press conference this afternoon, Deputy Minister Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah (right) also revealed the list of grant recipients numbering more than 4,000, but it did not include the name of the firm implicated by PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli.

Abu Bakar said that, even if Mosti receives a letter from the the Prime Minister's Department, the company must first meet its criteria before it is awarded anything.

“Letters for consideration is normal. Even kampung people produce this, but the criteria must be met,” he told reporters in Bukit Jalil.

“To date, NSE Resources Corporation has never made any application for a grant from us.”

He produced three thick volumes listing all 4,556 Mosti grant recipients under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Mosti only gives up to RM3 million in grants unless it is for a Mosti flagship agency, he said.

As such, he urged Rafizi to retract his allegations and apologise to the ministry.

“He (Rafizi) can write (sorry) a thousand times on Facebook,” he quipped, adding that no legal action will be taken against the Pandan MP.  

At an earlier press conference, Rafizi claimed that the firm had received another RM50 million from the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry.

"The sum extended to the company is more than what the company needs for the project," he said in reference to the combined total of RM150 million in grants.

Rafizi also called on Najib to explain the "special relationship" between the company and himself, his family members, Umno or the BN to deserve this generous gift

Earlier this week, Rafizi had disclosed letters from a whistleblower-source that the ‘renewable energy’ company had received approval for a RM100 million grant from Mosti in just two months with direct help from the prime minister.

He alleged that the company needed the money for a commercial steam-making project in Kerteh that it could not obtain bank loans for.

That project, almost completed now, is said to cost only RM130 million.

Malaysiakini has sent queries to the company but have not received any response since Monday.

Veracity of letters questioned

Besides denying the allegation on the grant, Abu Bakar also questioned the veracity of the letters produced by Rafizi.

He said the ministry’s records show that no single private company had received more than RM3 million from the total RM2.9 billion handed out under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Rafizi had disclosed four letters of the purportedly high-level and secretive deals between the company's director, the PM and Mosti Minister Ewon Ebin.

The RM100 million award was confirmed again in a letter (dated Jan 27,2014) allegedly written by the company to the Terengganu economic planning unit, appealing for a meeting.

Rafizi pointed out that the letter revealed that the company had also received a RM50 million grant under the energy ministry's ‘Green Technology Scheme’ and even mentioned that it would be dispersed shortly by a bank.

He said that, since his disclosure to the press, he has received only a short text-message from someone claiming to be Najib's representattive, asking for more information.

Rafizi said he would not entertain any such request. Instead, he has urged the government to immediately stop the grant and form expert panels to evaluate the company's R&D credentials.

He said the government should also rope in the Auditor-General's Office to investigate the matter.

Rafizi also plans to  file a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission next week if there is no response from Najib.