'Did I sign the letter?' Guan Eng on RM450m direct negotiation project
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng says he needed more time to study a letter purportedly issued by his ministry about an RM450 million project allegedly awarded through direct negotiation in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
"Was it (the letter) signed by me? Was it signed by me?" he asked after a reporter questioned him about the letter which was signed by an official under the acquisitions department of the Finance Ministry...
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng says he needed more time to study a letter purportedly issued by his ministry about an RM450 million project allegedly awarded through direct negotiation in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
"Was it (the letter) signed by me? Was it signed by me?" he asked after a reporter questioned him about the letter which was signed by an official under the acquisitions department of the Finance Ministry.
After confirming that it was not signed by him, Lim said he needs to do an "assessment" first as the letter was not signed by him.
"Please lah, there are so many letters signed... You must let me do an assessment first.
"I think you are referring to what the prime minister said, isn't it? So, can I discuss with my prime minister first?
"It is not right for me not to discuss with the prime minister first before talking to you," he said.
When pressed about the issue further, as the letter bore the Finance Ministry letterhead, Lim insisted that he did not sign it.
"But it is not signed by me. How many letters are signed by me? And by other officials?
"So, if it was signed by me, at least there is some basis.
"(If it was) signed by so many other officials, you know how many staff are there in the Finance Ministry?
"Please be reasonable. So, let me discuss this and also secondly, discuss with my prime minister first," he said.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said he will check on claims that the Pakatan Harapan government approved an RM450 million project in Kota Bharu through direct negotiations as he was not aware of such a thing.
"I don't know, I never approved anything, but I have to check on this," he said.
The letter, purportedly from the Finance Ministry dated July 26, 2019, claimed that the prime minister had written a letter on July 9 about approving the project through direct negotiation.
The July 26 letter, which is being circulated on social media, said the Finance Ministry had purportedly agreed for a particular company to be appointed through direct negotiation for the construction of a federal building in Tunjong, Kota Bharu, costing RM450 million.
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