MyKiosk: Nga denies improprieties, MCA wants receipts

Summary

• Nga Kor Ming has denied any improprieties in his ministry’s MyKiosk project, saying the MACC is welcome to investigate.

• He says the Housing and Local Government Ministry is also gathering evidence against those spreading ‘false allegations’ regarding the project.

• Meanwhile, Pahang MCA Youth slams Nga’s decision to report allegations to authorities and demands that the ministry release all details about MyKiosk.

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming today denied allegations of improprieties over the MyKiosk project.

His political rivals, meanwhile, want him to furnish all the details regarding the project.

MyKiosks are trading booths meant to substitute hawker stalls introduced by Nga’s ministry, as an effort to modernise the hawker and small business industry.

However, there are accusations that the kiosks, which cost between RM13,000 to RM25,000, are being sold to local councils at inflated prices.

Nga, at a press conference today, said that the Housing and Local Government Ministry is open to being investigated by any authority, including the MACC.

“I would like to invite (MACC) Azam Baki to my office for tea (to discuss further),” he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

On the pricing of the kiosks, he said local councils are free to appoint contractors through open bidding.

The kiosks are touted as being equipped with amenities such as solar panels, fans, LED lights, kitchen modules, and portable batteries.

The upgraded versions that cost RM25,000 reportedly feature improvements to the battery, solar systems, roofing, hydraulic windows, as well as reinforced structures.

Meanwhile, Nga said that his ministry is also compiling evidence of individuals and parties spreading false allegations about MyKiosk and will be lodging complaints with the police and MCMC.

‘No small matter’

In a statement responding to Nga, Pahang MCA Youth criticised the minister’s move to sic the police and MCMC on critics.

“Pahang MCA Youth would like to stress that the MyKiosk project is not a small matter.

“It involves hundreds of millions of public funds and concerns the income of small traders, and is a reflection of the governance and transparency of the government.

They also demanded that Nga furnish all details regarding MyKiosk.

This includes contract documents, the procurement process, and the actual price of each unit.

“We also demand an independent probe by the Public Accounts Committee or a truly independent non-partisan investigator,” they said in a statement this afternoon.

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