Give Us Chance To Implement Open Tender System -- Penang CM

PENANG, April 1 (Bernama) -- Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng Tuesday said the Federal Government should give the state government a chance to implement a fully open tender system, for the sake of the people.

Lim said the system was accorded with the financial procedure underlined by the Federal Government.

"If Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi thinks the open tender approach doesn't guarantee fairness, then he should revamp the financial procedure, because the state government was just following existing procedure.

"I wonder why it should be questioned when what we did was implement it according to the procedure," he said.

Lim was commenting on the Abdullah's reminder to all state governments that the implementation of the open tender system did not guarantee fairness to all races, especialy the minority.

The Prime Minister made the reminder when addressing a thanksgiving gathering held by the Penang Umno Liaison Body, in Butterworth, Saturday night.

Lim said, the open tender approach adopted by the state government was the peoples' choice and it had indirectly upgraded the contractor's capability to compete in a healthy manner.

"This open system will also raise the viability of Malay contractors. The people should know and should be informed on where and how the government's money was spent," he said.

The Penang state government had adopted a fully open tender system for all government's contracts and procurements, to eliminate bribery, cronyism and intransparency.

"What is of importance is the people's satisfaction. I do not have any interest whatsoever, in this matter," he said.

--BERNAMA