Ahli Parlimen DAP lapor SPRM isu RM2.1 bilion KKDW

Pak Chong Zhemin, an Ahli Parlimen DAP, lodged a report with Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Agency, SPRM, concerning the allocation of RM2.1 billion for the construction of the Kampar Outer Road, as part of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development's (KKDW) projects. Pak Chong urged the anti-corruption agency to investigate the Deputy Prime Minister's Deputy, Zahid Hamidi, due to the RM2.1 billion discrepancy between the project's budget and expenditure.

The report was submitted to SPRM headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today, following claims from SPRM Chief Adviser Abd Halim Aman that the agency would begin its investigation once it receives a formal complaint. Abd Halim stated that he only became aware of the KKDW expenditure issue through media reports and had not received a formal complaint to initiate further action.

Pak Chong emphasized the need to determine whether the contract or financial commitment was made before sufficient funding was approved, in addition to investigating the possibility of misuse of position or irregularity in the acquisition and payment processes. He also wished for SPRM to examine financial documents and contracts to identify when any funding release was approved and whether it was done before or after the contract liability accumulated.

Pak Chong's report was made after Deputy Treasurer-General Zamzuri Abdul Aziz on Oct 1 explained that the KKDW overspending issue had been resolved, but did not detail the resolution. Meanwhile, Zahid previously denied that the KKDW overspent its approved budget, asserting that the ministry only spent up to the amount approved or declared in the annual budget.

This denial came after Perbendaharaan Chief Treasurer Johan Mahmood Merican announced that the KKDW had been making commitments and overspending annual approved budgets for the outer road projects for several years.