TENGKU Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz today reiterated that there is nothing wrong with holding direct negotiations for projects, citing Section 6(1) of the Financial Procedure Act 1957 (Revised 1972).

“And, there are policies surrounding this as well, which provide justification for direct negotiations,” the finance minister told the press after launching Dana Penjana Nasional in Kuala Lumpur.

He stressed that the matter should not be politicised.

“To me, it is just factual, and a reflection of what was signed based on the data (letters of award) that we have in the Finance Ministry. It should not be an issue.”

Yesterday, the ministry released a list of 101 projects worth RM6.61 billion awarded through direct negotiations during the Pakatan Harapan administration.

Tengku Zafrul said this was done in the name of transparency, and that he was merely answering the questions posed to him in Parliament.

“(The list) is simply factual. We didn’t talk about who negotiated what, or when it was done in terms of letters of award. (The contracts were) just what was signed during PH’s time in office.” – Bernama, August 27, 2020.