Mr.IGP, what say you?

Kit Siang accuses IGP of lobbying for private companies

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 – The Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan was accused of lobbying on behalf of two private companies hoping to secure more than RM24 billion worth of projects from the government.

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, who had just a day earlier challenged Musa’s contention that Malaysia’s crime rate was lower than Japan’s, read out excerpts from two letters the IGP allegedly wrote to the finance minister and the home minister on behalf of two companies known as Asiacopter and Web Power Sdn Bhd.

The first letter produced by Lim was addressed to Second Finance Minister, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, and dated Feb 12, 2007, in which Musa supported an Asiacopter proposal for the rental of 34 helicopters over 30 years in a deal worth RM20 billion.

In a separate letter, Lim said Musa had written to Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, who then held the home ministry portfolio as well, regarding a RM4.2 billion proposal to acquire an integrated digital wireless system known as the “E-Police Force Solution,” from Web Power Sdn Bhd.

"I have no problems with the police wanting to purchase a system that will help them in investigating crime, but how can the IGP ask the Prime Minister for a "Letter of Exclusive Intent" to be issued to Web Power Sdn Bhd and not via the Secretary General of the Home Ministry?" the Ipoh Timur MP asked.

"The proper procedure in any such purchase is that the IGP must write a letter to the Secretary General of the ministry, who then writes to the Finance Ministry and only after approval, does the home ministry call for tenders.

"But now, the IGP has 'bypassed' this by going straight to the Prime Minister," he said.

He also read out from the letter to Nor Mohamed, in which Musa wrote "I fully support this proposal."

The DAP parliamentary leader made the allegations when he stood to table a motion to dock RM10 from the IGP’s salary, a symbolic gesture usually used in Parliament to express a vote of no confidence against ministers.

The motion was defeated by 48 votes to 30.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung was left defending the IGP. Chor said there was no question of any doubts about Musa’s integrity.

There was no reason why Musa could not recommend the two projects if he saw fit, said Chor, adding that the IGP had not "forced or pressured" for the projects to be approved.

Both projects have not yet taken off and it is unclear if they have been approved.

Lim then challenged Chor to allow the matter be investigated by the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

"We have no problems with bringing it to the PAC. All parties will give their cooperation," Chor replied.