KUALA LUMPUR: YOUTH and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman yesterday said he would be the first to resign if elements of corruption or abuse of power were found in the award of a multi-million ringgit contract to run the National Youth Skills Institutes (IKBN) in three states.
The contract involves the supply of food for IKBN in Melaka, Selangor and Perlis.
The drama began when Syed Saddiq, who was delivering his winding-up speech on his ministry’s role in the Supply Bill 2020 in the Dewan Rakyat, was interrupted by Mohd Shahar Abdullah (BN-Paya Besar).
Shahar had asked Syed Saddiq whether the latter would be willing to resign if elements of abuse of power were found in the award of the contract.
Syed Saddiq initially reiterated his stand that he was ready to be investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police.
However, he continued to be pressed on whether he would step down if the allegations were proven.
This led the minister to raise his right hand and declare: “Wallahi Wabillahi Watallahi. As Allah is my witness, if MACC and the police can prove that there is indeed corruption and abuse of power, I will be the first to resign.”
Syed Saddiq said he was not afraid of an investigation by the authorities, and had already instructed his officers to lodge a report with MACC.
He then delivered his own blow, claiming that in the previous administration, corruption was so rampant that some projects were even approved by Umno divisions themselves.
“The days of direct negotiations are over.
“Now, projects are given via tender because we do not want the people’s money to be wasted and abused.”
R.S.N. Rayer (PH-Jelutong) then challenged Shahar and Datuk Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu), who had taken turns to pressure Syed Saddiq, if they were willing to step down over the issue if proven wrong.
Shahar repeatedly demanded an explanation from Syed Saddiq over the issue, but the latter was unmoved, maintaining that his ministry had handed over the matter to the police and MACC.
Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid was forced to remind members of parliament to respect the minister’s tabling of his speech, but it fell on deaf ears as Jalaluddin and Shahar continued to press Syed Saddiq.
Jalaluddin had previously claimed that he had evidence to back his allegations, and had read out the names of companies in different states which were allegedly the beneficiaries of the contract. -- Reports by Nuradzimmah Daim, Arfa Yunus, Mohd Iskandar Ibrahim and Mohd Azrone Sarabatin