“I urge YB Lim Hock Seng to explain whether YB Chow Kon Yeow’s statement is true and accurate, or whether his (Lim’s) reply to me was true and accurate”
PETALING JAYA: Dato’ Muhammad Farid Saad took two Penang state executive council members to task for contradicting one another over the consultancy fees for the three road projects in the state.
In a statement, the Barisan Nasional (BN) rep pointed out the stark contrast in explanations offered by Chow Kon Yeow and Lim Hock Seng, saying the duo were in disagreement over costs involved, particularly those relating to the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA).
Chow chairs the state Local Government Committee while Lim chairs the state Public Works, Utilities, Transportation Committee.
On the 24th of June, Chow claimed that the RM177.5mil involved included payment for the DEIA, which contrasted an explanation offered by Lim during a state legislative assembly sitting a month earlier.
On the 22nd of May, Lim reportedly told an assembly sitting that a total of RM220mil had been paid exclusive of the DEIA, meaning, the state government had issued far more payments than Chow claimed, none of which were related to the DEIA.
“I urge YB Lim Hock Seng to explain whether YB Chow Kon Yeow’s statement is true and accurate, or whether his (Lim’s) reply to me was true and accurate,” Muhammad Farid said.
Previously, the Barisan Nasional strategic communications team provided documents by the Board of Engineers of Malaysia (BEM) stating that payments by the state government for consultancy fees for the three main roads project was four times the standard rates.
BEM was said to have replied that the RM177mil in detailed design costs was four times higher than the maximum allowed under the gazetted scale of fees, which the board calculated to be RM41mil.
Chow has said that the allegation was untrue.
“The civil and structural consultation fee was only RM64.3mil and not RM177.5mil as thought by Barisan Nasional strategic communications director Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
“Besides consultation fee, the RM177.5mil mentioned by Abdul Rahman was also used for 10 other job scopes,” said Chow
Adapted from: The Star Online
