SSER didn’t secure rights from Petronas, says Guan Eng

SSER didn’t secure rights from Petronas, says Guan Eng

The finance minister says MACC has raided the company and the ministry has taken control of its offices.

Free Malaysia Today
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng says SSER has failed to acquire land in Sabah for the Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline (TSGP).
KUALA LUMPUR:
Suria Strategic Energy Resources Sdn Bhd (SSER) has failed to secure any rights from Petronas, as required by the law, to lay the pipes for the multi-product pipeline (MPP), says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said the company also failed to acquire the necessary land in Sabah to do the same for the Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline (TSGP).

“Despite such shocking revelations, (former prime minister) Najib Razak still claimed that all the necessary processes, procedure and laws had been complied with in relation to the signing of these two pipeline projects,” he said in a statement here, today.

Lim said the finance ministry had filed a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“A MACC raid has been carried out at the offices of SSER. The finance ministry has taken control of SSER’s offices. All of its employees have been placed on ‘garden leave’ until further notice,” he said.

SSER president Mohammed Azhar Osman Khairuddin has also been removed as a director of the company and the ministry is in the process of appointing an executive committee led by an accounting firm to operate the company and investigate the transactions made by SSER.

The MPP involves a 600km multi-product petroleum pipeline connecting Melaka and Port Dickson to Jitra, costing RM5.35 billion. The TSGP involves building a 662km gas pipeline from Kimanis Gas Terminal to Sandakan and Tawau, costing RM4.06 billion.

“The Pakatan Harapan federal government would like to assure Malaysians that all necessary measures shall be taken to uncover the truth. We will take any required action against any party responsible to protect taxpayers’ interests,” Lim added.

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.