PARLIAMENT A statement by YTL Group of Companies managing director Francis Yeoh concerning crony capitalism and independent power producers (IPPs) became hot topics in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.    

 

Three backbenchers and four opposition MPs weighed in on them during debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill (2014) 2014.    

 

Backbencher Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) urged the government to make available a video recording in which Yeoh is alleged to have asked for Malaysia to be free of crony capitalism and racial issues or religious rhetoric.    

 

He said this was because Yeoh had denied making such statements and claimed that they had been twisted by the media.    

 

In an interview with Global Series Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur recently, Francis was reported to have said that Malaysia needs to be free of stumbling blocks like crony capitalism and racial issues or religious rhetoric if it wanted to be a global player.    

 

He is also reported to have said his companies never resorted to negative practices since before and the proof was that 85 per cent of YTL's business was abroad.    

 

IPPs have often been put on the spotlight because people perceive the contracts are 'sweetheart' deals. YTL operates a number of power plants in the country through IPP contracts.     

 

To an interjection by another backbencher, Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang), who said without government support most corporate bigwigs would not have been successful, Bung Moktar replied some did not remember this.    

 

He also voiced support to a suggestion by Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong) that the cabinet reactivate the committee to discuss the IPPs issue which was set up in 2011 to prevent future problems related to IPPs.    

 

Meanwhile, Rafizi Ramli (PKR-Pandan), one of the opposition MPs who joined the fray, asked the government to intervene to block the award of a tender for an IPP contract through direct negotiation to a consortium participated by YTL as Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) staff had made known their objections on it.    

 

- Bernama