TEBING Tinggi assemblyman Abdul Aziz Bari today denied his involvement in the awarding of a direct tender to solid waste management company Mainiza Teknitek Recowaste Sdn Bhd.

The Perak opposition leader, shooting down the claim by Titi Serong rep Hasnul Zulkarnain Abd Munaim, said he was not the local government exco in the previous Pakatan Harapan state government.

The portfolio, which he held prior to PH taking the state, was taken up Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Amumu two years ago.

“My portfolio was not changed, but it was taken by him (Faizal) without my knowledge at the beginning of the PH government, which was set up in 2018,” said Aziz.

He said he was exco for education, science, environment and green technology.

“As for the company managing solid waste, it is under local government authorities. I was not involved in any of the meetings.”

He said he was never part of negotiations to award the tender in question.

“I have never been involved in any negotiations on the terms of the tender and the like. The project is huge, involving millions.

“If it’s true that during PH rule, we made errors, it is the Perikatan Nasional government that has to fix them. Is the state government now unable to do their job, and just blaming Faizal? Are the excos now doing nothing?”

Aziz had said awarding such contracts without going through the process of an open tender was “shocking, not transparent, and detrimental to the people”, referring to the possibility of a hike in prices due to the monopoly.

However, Hasnul Zulkarnain, a former Amanah youth chief who is now an independent rep backing PN, said Aziz attended a meeting last year to appoint a company to manage solid waste in the state.

Faizal told a press conference yesterday that the tender was awarded when PH ran Perak.

The PN state government’s decision to privatise solid waste management services is a continuation of PH’s decision, he said.

“The decision to privatise solid waste management was made last year… Today, PN continues the decision made by PH.” – June 26, 2020.