Saturday July 26, 2008

Terengganu MB: Probe Monsoon Cup, Islamic Park

KUALA TERENGGANU: The authorities should investigate if there was graft in other high-profile projects in Terengganu and not just the issue of high cost of maintaining official cars, said Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said.

He said the Anti-Corruption Agency should not be selective and should also conduct investigations into projects like the prestigious Monsoon Cup sailing event and the Islamic Civilisation Park.

»The ACA should be transparent by also going after the ‘big’ cases« DATUK AHMAD SAID

In an immediate response, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said this was up to the ACA.

“If the ACA finds reasons to initiate investigations into them because there is suspicion of elements of corruption, it is up to the ACA to decide,” he told reporters after the National Academic Awards 2007 in Kuala Lumpur.

Ahmad Said, in a press conference here yesterday, said the two projects he named were “only the tip of the iceberg”.

“I am a controversial figure, I will expose more, but the ACA should be transparent by also going after the ‘big’ cases.

“Don’t only go after Mad (Ahmad Said). Investigate the Monsoon Cup and Islamic Civilisation Park, too,” he said.

When asked if he believed there were elements of corruption in the two projects, Ahmad replied: “That’s for the ACA to investigate.”

Ahmad said the ACA had been quick to investigate the high service costs for Proton Perdana cars when he proposed buying Mercedes Benz as state cars, and asked that it also cast its eyes on other cases, like the Monsoon Cup.

The Monsoon Cup, managed by a state-owned company, offers the highest prize money in the world for a sailing competition. The annual event was inaugurated in 2005, and this year’s edition is scheduled for November.

Since its debut the event has been criticised by its opponents as wasteful and not benefiting the people.

The Islamic Civilisation Park is part of a project under the East Coast Economic Region to boost Kuala Terengganu as a waterfront city.

The park is divided into two zones: the Islamic Civilisation Complex and the Public Zone.

Ahmad also called for a probe on the high service charges by Spanco, a service agent engaged to maintain Federal government vehicles.