KL denies favoritism

KL denies favoritism

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The Malaysian government dismissed charges
yesterday it practised favoritism in handing out contracts,
saying any able group with good ideas and track record could win
business from the state.

"No group could pull strings with the government leadership to
get projects," Deputy Premier Anwar Ibrahim declared amid claims
by the opposition and frustrated quarters that nepotism dominated
deals awarded by the ruling National Front.

The opposition, led by the predominantly-ethnic Chinese
Democratic Action Party (DAP), has consistently slammed the
National Front for allegedly favoring only indigenous Malays and
certain ethnic Chinese entreprenuers when handing out mega-deals.

Among contracts which fell under the opposition spotlight
recently was the privatization of a national sewage project and a
huge hydro-electric dam, both multi-billion-dollar deals awarded
to selected parties reportedly without public tender.

Anwar said multi-racial Malaysia had a policy to safeguard the
welfare and development of the Malays but this had never
prevented it from being fair to other races, including ethnic
Indians.