UK firm wins contract

UK firm wins contract

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysia's only opposition-led state, Kelantan, will award a water-supply contract to a British company, despite the government's ban on British firms, the New Straits Times newspaper reported on Saturday.

Kelantan's chief minister, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, said on Friday the northeastern state will engage Thames Water for the project involving the supply of water to the state's water treatment plants.

He said the project would be a joint-venture between Thames Water and state board Yayasan Lenatan Darulnaim.

Malaysia imposed a ban on awarding government contracts to British firms after the Sunday Times of London published a story alleging a British construction company had been prepared to give Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad a $50,000 bribe to secure a building contract.