He told the Dewan Rakyat he would resign if his statement against PH was proven wrong.
At the start of his speech, Wee claimed his predecessor Loke Siew Fook had failed to inform the Cabinet that the estimated cost of the KVDT 2 project could be lowered, after listening to two report presentations by Opus Consultants in 2018.
Two minutes into the minister’s speech, Loke (PH-Seremban) interjected, saying: “That is a wrong fact, he is confusing the Dewan and lying.”
Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun then muted Loke’s microphone, requesting him to allow Wee to finish his speech.
Wee continued by questioning Loke’s suggestion for the finance ministry to consider Opus Consultants as an independent review consultant, when the former minister had claimed the reports presented to him were informal.
“A letter of intent was also given by the finance ministry to Opus Consultants. Just before the letter of acceptance was issued, the Pakatan Harapan government fell,” he said.
A shouting match erupted when Wee said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed that the KVDT 2 project under PH was not carried out according to governmental procurement procedures, and that it should have been done through open tender.
“That is another lie, that is another fact that is confusing the Dewan. What did we (PH) do that did not follow procedures?” asked Loke.
“I am reading facts, this was issued by the MACC,” said Wee. “If there is any indication that I am lying with these facts presented, I will resign.”
“The project was awarded by (the earlier transport minister) Liow Tiong Lai, you were part of the Cabinet at the time too,” argued Loke, prompting Azhar to mute their microphones again.
It was previously reported that Dhaya Maju LTAT Sdn Bhd, the contractor for the KDVT 2 project, had filed a lawsuit against the Perikatan Nasional government over its decision to cancel the contract.
The transport ministry’s decision to cancel the awarding of the project and reopen it for tender followed Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz’s claim that the PH government had awarded 101 projects through direct negotiation.
It was the Barisan Nasional government that, in 2017, awarded the project to Dhaya Maju LTAT but the contract was cancelled after the change of government in 2018.
The PH administration then reappointed Dhaya Maju LTAT to continue the project after a reduction in its scope and costs.