School textbook purchase: Printers hit out at MOF over direct negotiation
Malay Printing Entrepreneur Association Malaysia has questioned the Finance Ministry's (MOF) decision to give approval for the acquisition of textbooks through direct negotiations.
The association claimed that the acquisition of the textbooks for the dual language programme (DLP) was given to a public-listed publisher instead of printers...
Malay Printing Entrepreneur Association Malaysia has questioned the Finance Ministry's (MOF) decision to give approval for the acquisition of textbooks through direct negotiations.
The association claimed that the acquisition of the textbooks for the dual language programme (DLP) was given to a public-listed publisher instead of printers.
In a statement on Jan 13, the MOF stated that the special approval for the procurement of textbooks in September last year was for the needs of the students to be met as soon as possible.
It says that MOF had considered applications from any ministry or agency that had a critical or urgent need to execute direct negotiations for procurement purposes.
However, on Wednesday (Jan 16), the Education Ministry released a statement saying that the textbooks, which include Form 3 mathematics and science subjects, would be supplied and distributed in March, instead of January.
Association president Muhammed Farhan Basheer lamented the MOF's decision, which had resulted in a delay in the distribution of the textbooks.
"Whatever excuses given, the MOF should have called for open tender, and not direct negotiation, to prevent the project from being given to cronies or unqualified individuals.
"Why did bumiputera printing companies fork out the capital to purchase expensive printing machines only to have their rights denied?" Farhan said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.
He questioned whether there is cronyism being practised in the government.
"The question which needs an answer is, why was the project given to the publisher, and not to any of the members in the association? Does the publisher have enough capability to do the large-scale printing job?
"Is there cronyism in the government?" he said.
Malay Council Economic Council chief executive officer Ahmad Yazid Othman, who was also present, said that big tenders should not be given to certain quarters.
"If this continues to happen, how is the government going to boost the economy? There should be a fair distribution of wealth and opportunities.
"There are (printing) companies which are on the verge of shutting down because there is no job. Students have increased, textbooks have increased, but the companies have no job," he said.
Malaysiakini has contacted Ministry of Finance for clarification.
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