Council man under probe

PETALING JAYA: A Selangor DAP municipal councillor, with close ties to the state party leadership, has obtained contracts for his cronies and even a family member by writing his own letters of support using a state exco member’s letterhead.

Exco member Ronnie Liu confirmed his letterhead had been misused and that the party was investigating the local councillor. However, party members said such an internal action was “not enough”.

An insider said the DAP was now under pressure to lodge a report since the media had become aware of it.

“It is bad enough that he (the local councillor) is making use of such things, he has been re-appointed twice as a councillor,” said the insider.

Investigations revealed that the councillor, a DAP veteran, had obtained several contracts from the same council where he had served since July 2008. He has recently been reappointed for a third term.

Within this council, one of the biggest in the state, he was appointed to sit in several important committees – including the tender board.

The man, in his 50s, had previously stood twice for a state seat in past general elections and was even a member of the state DAP line-up.

Liu, who is the Pandamaran assemblyman, claimed he was not aware that his letterheads were misused at first.

“There have been strong allegations that the councillor used my letterheads to influence the council to obtain contracts, but I’m leaving it to the party to investigate,” he said.

It is learnt that Liu only found out about the councillor’s activities recently and his initial reaction was to sack the man from his party position.

Sources said Liu, who is Selangor DAP deputy chairman, tried to stop the man from being re-appointed as councillor for the third term but failed as “the man had strong backing from other members of the state-level party leadership”.

According to the source, Liu had a tough time convincing the party leadership that the councillor was up to no good but managed to remove him from all other posts within the council.

It is alleged that the businessman had obtained contracts worth more than RM1mil since August 2008 till the middle of this year.

Throughout this period, documents showed that he had supplied “letters of support” for some 30 companies to solicit contracts from the council, including more than 20 that were successful. These companies made about RM70,000 per month.

It is learnt that the councillor not only used Liu’s letterheads but also sometimes signed the documents. Some of these letters carried the ‘BP’ which is a short form for bagi pihak (on behalf of) while others did not bear such a note.

In one letter, directed to the council president and dated Aug 12, 2008, and signed on behalf of Liu, the councillor recommended maintenance contracts for nine companies for jobs around the municipality.

Yesterday, The Star reported that the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan warned civil servants not to give in or be unduly influenced by such letters of support.

DAP veteran used exco man’s letterhead to obtain contracts

BY ELAN PERUMAL
newsdeak@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: A municipal councillor al­­legedly used a state exco member’s official letterhead and seal by writing his own letters of support to obtain contracts for his cronies and a family member.

It is alleged that the councillor, a DAP veteran, had secured contracts worth more than RM1mil for 20 companies from the council where he had been serving since July 2008.

Although the man — who has strong party connections — has no access to the exco member’s office now, he has, however, been reappointed as a councillor for a third term.

The councillor sits on several important committees — including the tender board — at the council, one of the biggest in the state.

Exco member Ronnie Liu has confirmed that his letterhead had been misused and that the local councillor was now being investigated by the party. However, members claimed internal action was “not enough”.

A party insider said the DAP was under pressure to lodge a report with the authorities.