SEAG organizers face tender allegation

SEAG organizers face tender allegation

JAKARTA (JP): With the event less than five months away, the
organizing committee of the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA)
Games is facing an allegation of tender irregularities.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who
is also chairman of the board of directors of the Games, said on
Sunday that he would leave the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to
investigate the allegation.

"I advise those unhappy to report to the ACA," he was quoted
as saying by Bernama news agency.

"This a serious allegation and the best way of determining its
validity is to ask the ACA to conduct an investigation. This must
be done as soon as possible."

"The ACA investigation will involve not only our officers but
also the accusers," he said.

Hishammuddin said he would ask the ministry's Secretary-
General, Datuk Mahamad Zabri Min and its legal adviser, Kamaludin
Md. Said, to bring the matter to the ACA for investigation.

"Investigation must be carried out on the officer concerned as
well as the source of the allegation. I want the problem to be
resolved as soon as possible because I don't want the SEA Games
to be jeopardized."

Bernama said the allegation occurred after a local daily
newspaper exposed it last Thursday, saying there was malpractice,
especially in determining the actual cost of certain tenders for
the Games.

A local company -- which had unsuccessfully tendered for the
information technology results system for the Sept. 8 to Sept. 17
Games -- claimed there were irregularities in the tender
selection process for the Games projects.

Reports said that four state corporate players -- Petronas,
Telekom Malaysia, Tenaga Nasional Berhad and Proton -- have
pledged US$1 million apiece to make the multi-sports event a huge
success.

The Games are offering 391 gold medals from 32 sports, the
second largest ever in the history of the Games after the 1997
Jakarta Games, when more than 400 golds were at stake. (yan)