UMNO headquarters Putra World Trade Centre has not been sold off to Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd, said its new management.

Gerbang Perdana has denied buying the party’s crown jewel, following reports alleging that the building had been sold due to Umno’s financial woes stemming from the freezing of its accounts over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

The confusion over ownership began when Gerbang Perdana managing director Yahya Abdul Jalil was appointed to the board of Putrade Property Management Sdn Bhd, the company that manages PWTC, in October.

“It’s not right to link Yahya’s other companies to PWTC. He is only assisting as a board member.

“PWTC has not been sold. Umno still owns it,” Putrade CEO Shamsul Kamar Ahmad told The Malaysian Insight in a recent interview.

Yahya, who was present during the interview, said he is on the Putrade board in his personal capacity.

“It has nothing to do with Gerbang Perdana, which I own.

“This fact has to be corrected. I am not on the board as a Gerbang Perdana representative, but in my personal capacity.”

Gerbang Perdana was linked to the crooked bridge between Malaysia and Singapore 10 years ago. The project was scrapped by former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2006.

Following the cancellation, Gerbang Perdana demanded a RM360 million compensation from Putrajaya. The company was paid RM247 million for work done before the project was called off.

Yahya said he was appointed based on his experience in building management as Advanced Maintenance Precision Management Sdn Bhd director.

“I have the experience and I am on board to help PWTC, which already has its own team. I will give my input to the team and help with management.”

It was previously reported that Umno had asked Gerbang Perdana to restructure PWTC’s operations after the Barisan Nasional lynchpin lost power in the 14th general election and found itself in dire financial straits.

Yahya said PWTC is doing alright, and companies are still interested in holding events in the building’s convention centre.

He said Putrade has a solid base, adding that he is there to strengthen the team and ensure PWTC can compete with other convention centres in Kuala Lumpur.

“We have to work hard. The competition is stiff. There are many modern and new convention centres in the capital.

“PWTC is more than 30 years old. We have to reposition it to attract business, especially international conventions.” – December 27, 2018.