The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has been urged to initiate investigations into a company linked to the wife of Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud which was recently awarded two state government projects worth hundreds of millions of ringgit.

During the oral question session in Parliament yesterday, Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching) questioned the awarding of the project to build the new Sarawak legislative assembly complex and a road maintenance project to Cahya Mata Sarawak Sdn Bhd (CMS).

He told the House that Laila Taib ( pix ) is the largest individual shareholder in CMS, holding 37 million shares in the company. He also claimed the remaining shareholders and directors are close family members of the chief minister.

A search by malaysiakini on the CMS website however found Laila's name not listed but Chong said a search he made with the Registrar of Companies last year supported his claim.

According to him, the project to build the Sarawak legislative assembly complex which began last September was worth about RM300 million.

It was reported that the new nine-storey complex located in a prime area overlooking the Sarawak River in Kuching is part of an overall master plan covering 172 acres. The completion date is scheduled for September 2007.

The road maintenance project of 4,600 kilometres, awarded a few years ago, is estimated to cost between RM20 to 40 million a year.

The two projects were reported to have awarded to CMS subsidiaries PPES Works (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd and CMS Roads Sdn Bhd respectively.

No official report

Responding on the matter, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said the ACA could not take action because it did not receive any complaint so far.

He said the ACA needs detailed information on the allegations to determine whether there was any impropriety involved in awarding the projects to CMS.

"The awarding of the projects to any company was not improper and ACA could not simply step in to oversee all project awarding exercises," Mohd Nazri noted.

The minister added that the ACA is prepared to investigate the matter should an official report be lodged and he hoped the Bandar Kuching MP could provide relevant information to the ACA.

Met later, Chong however said that the ACA could invoke its power to investigate the matter which involves public interest although no official report has been lodged.

"I think that a formal report is not necessary because Parliament Hansard has recorded today's proceedings and it could be considered as official," he told malaysiakini at the Parliament lobby.

He added that the Sarawak DAP committee will meet within two weeks to decide on the next course of action following Mohd Nazri's reply.