Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) has revealed that the son of police chief Musa Hassan is affiliated with two companies that received the latter’s open endorsement for two multi-billion ringgit contracts.

Lim told the Dewan Rakyat today that Musa had lobbied a finance minister to award a RM20 billion deal - to rent 34 helicopters for 30 years - to AsiaCopter Sdn Bhd. Musa’s son, he said, is indirectly connected to the company.

nor mohamed yakcop The endorsement was in the form of a letter of support dated Feb 17, 2007, and which was sent to Second Finance Minister Nor Yakcop Mohamed (left) .

Lim also said Musa’s son is directly connected to Web Power Sdn Bhd, which was endorsed in another letter of support dated Nov 3, 2006 to handle the RM4.2 billion ‘E-Police Force Solution’ project.

parliament pandikar amin anwar ibrahim lim kit siang dap pkr pc 121108 04 Both allegations were raised in Lim’s speech for a motion of censure through a RM10 pay-cut against the inspector-general of police (IGP) for allegedly abusing his power by issuing the letters.

“Other former IGPs have never done this, they were 100 percent focused on containing the crime rate, and have never been lobbyists for any projects,” said Lim (left) .

“Musa is not just a lobbyist but had written a letter to the prime minister and had bypassed procedures. Isn’t it more serious that he has a vested interest where his son is directly connected with Web Power and indirectly connected to AsiaCopter?”

‘Matter of perception’

Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung defended Musa, but did not rebut the claim that Musa’s son has connections with the two companies.

“After studying the files on both projects, it is correct that the IGP had sent the letters but only in his capacity as the IGP. I don’t see anything wrong with the letters,” he said.

musa hassan police igp force According to him, Musa (left) - while the Deputy IGP - had been instructed by then IGP Bakri Musa to study both projects.

Musa had supported these even before he replaced Bakri, said Chor whose ministry has oversight of the police force.

He further said that, at the time, the police felt that it was necessary for the projects to be implemented.

chor chee heung “So because he had conducted a detailed study on both projects during his time as DIGP, he issued the letters when he became the IGP, based on the needs of the police,” said Chor.

“Details of the projects were also given to the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) for further study. However, the EPU found that, although the police were in need of these projects, there might be cheaper options.

“This shows that everything was done transparently and according to procedure. Therefore we cannot say that any abuse of power has taken place.”

Other opposition MPs then took turns to grill Chor, pointing out that Musa had abused his powers by issuing letters of “exclusive intent” in endorsing that the projects be awarded to the two companies.

Chor refused to budge and maintained his position that he saw nothing wrong with issuance of the letters and that the opposition’s viewpoint was “just a matter of perception”.

Lim’s censure motion was rejected by the speaker.