I Ll Check Says Pm On Rm450m Project Approved Via Direct Negotiation Claims

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Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he will check on claims that Pakatan Harapan approved an RM450 million project in Kota Bharu, Kelantan through direct negotiation as he was not aware of such a thing
"I don't know, I never approved anything. But I have to check on this
"Maybe they got it last time, maybe it is a continuation
"I don't know which case this is," Mahathir said in a press conference after attending the Putrajaya Boat Race 2019 championships today

He was responding to a question about a letter dated July 26, 2019, purportedly from the Finance Ministry which claimed that the prime minister had written a letter on July 9 about approving the project for direct negotiation
The July 26 letter, which is being circulated on social media, said the Finance Ministry had purportedly agreed for a particular company to be appointed through direct negotiation for the construction of a federal building (bangunan gunasama persekutuan) in Tunjong, Kota Bharu with a cost of RM450 million
Umno supreme council member Mohd Razlan Rafii (photo) had posted a picture of the letter with a series of questions on Twitter today
"I want to ask the Finance Ministry, is this letter false? Why is there still direct negotiation
"What is the logic behind giving this project (through) direct negotiation? Who owns the project?" he questioned
On a separate issue, Mahathir also spoke about the haze problem plaguing the country now
He said Putrajaya has always wanted to have a long-term plan to tackle the haze issue but it is impossible without cooperation from the other countries involved
"We have always wanted to have a long-term plan but it requires cooperation from other countries so until we get cooperation, it is not possible for us to have any plan
"Cooperation with Indonesia and other countries maybe," he said. - Mkini

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