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)