Aide Says Takiyuddin S Direct Nego Talk With Zafrul Taken Out Of Context

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A leaked conversation between De Facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan and Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz about a directly negotiated project in Kedah was taken out of context, claimed Takiyuddin's political secretary Wan Rohimi Wan Daud.
The Whatsapp conversation leaked on social media showed Takiyuddin asking for Zafrul's opinion on the Plubang water treatment plant project in Kedah.
Takiyuddin pointed out to Zafrul that the project owner, Kedah-owned Bina Darulaman Berhad (BDB), already had its own joint-partner venture.
This was after Taliworks Corporation, which had managed Langkawi's water supply for 25 years but whose concession is expiring soon, appealed directly to the federal government to be a joint-venture partner with BDB.
Even though the Plubang water treatment plant project was commissioned by the Kedah government, Putrajaya still has a say as it is funded through a federal loan.
"Brother, BDB already has a partner for this project, so what's your opinion?" Takiyuddin asked Zafrul in the leaked conversation.
Zafrul responded that it will be best for BDB to meet with Taliworks' controlling shareholder Lim Chee Meng first.
"Then I will brief the prime minister. Because (the) state needs a technical partner," he said.
Lim is associated with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's son Fakhri Yassin Mahiaddin through Thriven Global Bhd.
Last year, it was reported that Lim emerged as the third-largest shareholder in Thriven Global where Fakhri is the biggest stakeholder.
Zafrul's mother Zaharaton Raja Zainal Abidin also sits on the Taliworks' board of directors.

Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz
However, Takiyuddin said Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor had already proposed a separate water project in Langkawi with Taliworks that will be worth RM550 million.
To this, Zafrul replied "oh ok" but added: "But for direct negotiation, we also need to make sure that the partner/joint-venture for the state company is strong technically and financially".
The joint-venture partner favoured by the PAS-led Kedah government over Taliworks was not disclosed in the conversation.
The conversation prompted criticism against Takiyuddin with former PAS lawyer Zulhazmi Shariff asking if he was acting as an agent to broker a direct negotiation project on behalf of the Kedah menteri besar.
Takiyuddin is Kedah-federal coordinator
Takiyuddin's political secretary said this was untrue and the minister was only doing his job.
"The Whatsapp screen capture was taken out of context and circulated with the ill-intent of creating a negative perception and sullying the good name of the parties involved," Wan Rohimi said in a statement.
He added that Takiyuddin was coordinating between Kedah and the federal government because, since Sept 1, he had been appointed as the coordinating minister between the two.
In that capacity, Wan Rohimi said Takiyuddin's job scope includes acting as a facilitator between Kedah and the federal government for outstanding issues, be it concerning programmes or projects.
Takiyuddin is also tasked to do so for the distribution of aid and disaster management as well as any other duties instructed by the prime minister, the aide added. 
"Therefore, what transpired in the captured Whatsapp conversation is part of Takiyuddin's job scope and responsibilities in his capacity as the coordinator."
Wan Rohimi appended a statement by the Kedah menteri besar dated yesterday explaining the projects that were discussed in the leaked conversation.
'Kedah govt asked Takiyuddin for help'
In the statement, Sanusi said based on past convention, the Kedah government is entitled to approve its own contractor if the project is commissioned by the state even though it is using a federal loan.

Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor
An approval only comes from the federal government if it is funded by a federal grant, he said, adding that for four other water treatment plants commissioned according to this method, they would be conducted based on an open tender.
However, Sanusi said this policy appeared to have changed where the state is now required to seek federal approval even though it is using a federal loan and not a grant.
It is in this context, he said, that the Kedah and federal governments have been communicating with each other via letters and comments.
"Considering that time was running out and the Plubang water treatment plant needed to be expedited in order to guarantee water supply and avoid a crisis in a number of districts, therefore I requested the Kedah-federal coordinating minister (Takiyuddin) to follow up on Kedah's request to the finance ministry," he said.
According to Sanusi, the Finance Ministry conveyed to Takiyuddin that Taliworks had applied to become a joint-venture partner with BDB.
"Because BDB had already appointed the contractor and joint-venture partner for the Plubang water treatment plant, furthermore, the ground-breaking ceremony for the project was already carried out, therefore the state government proposed that Taliworks be considered for a future project," he said. 
Sanusi mentioned a water treatment plant in Langkawi, which the federal government had announced a few years ago, as the possible project. 
"However, it will be subjected to the procurement methods and processes as determined by the federal government (open tender or direct negotiation with a government-linked company)," he added. - Mkini

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