We’re not giving free land for test tracks, says Lim
GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has denied that the state government was giving free land for the construction of the two monorail test tracks in Seberang Prai.
Lim had been asked about a claim made by a reader of The Star, Calvin Sankaran, that the state government gave a company called MRails preferential treatment with free state land worth tens of millions of ringgit, and that there was no open tender system in the selection process.
“It is an outright lie. What the company (MRails) needs to do is to source for its own funds to build monorail test tracks, but the land still belongs to the state government.
“I am not mentioning the name of the other company as it has not been ascertained if the company will come in, and, therefore, it is not fair for me to name that company,” he said yesterday.
Sankaran had also said that the state government, which prides itself on its CAT (Competency, Accountability and Transparency) principles, had repeatedly refused to comment on the report and when it did, the public was more confused about the issue.
Deputy Chief Minister II Prof P. Ramasamy was quoted as saying that two companies had been given approval to build separate 1km monorail test tracks.
Sankaran in his letter also mentioned that Public Works, Utilities and Transport Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng had contradicted Ramasamy as he claimed that the site would be for a monorail cab assembly and test track for interested buyers from abroad, and not for the monorail project.
He said when Lim commented on the issue, he confirmed the selection of MRails Sdn Bhd but inexplicably refused to name the second company selected for the “cab assembly and test track” project.
Lim added that there would be an open tender if the state government decided on having the monorail project.
“But Sankaran is jumping to conclusions that we are going to offer the project to this company, which is a lie. We have first to see if the project is suitable or not.
“Any company that wants to do the test tracks for free can apply to us.
“This test tracks cost millions and so far only this company has come forward.
“If the project is workable we will have to carry out an open tender,” he said.
The Star - January 3, 2010 By MANJIT KAUR
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/3/nation/5405554&sec=nation
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