PETALING JAYA, Nov 7 — PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli today revealed that he had received insider information about a RM2 billion project that was purportedly in the process of being awarded by caretaker environment and water minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

The project, which is said to be for the planning of phase two for a flood barrier at Sungai Langat, was the second one awarded to the same company in the past six months, Rafizi said during a press conference at PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

“Extensive research into the owner of said company has shown that he is a figure who is very close to Umno and has received continuous profit from government projects,” he alleged.

Malay Mail has chosen not to name the company in question or its owner until Rafizi’s claims can be independently verified.

Rafizi claimed that the company has not filed audited financial statements because it has chosen the status of an exempt company, something which he said was done only by small companies and not those that receive government projects worth billions.

“It has faced two bankruptcy petitions in court for not paying contractors according to Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) records and the company owes around RM144 million to financial institutions according to SSM records,” he alleged.

The company in question had previously been the recipient of large projects from the government, he said, most notably one in Papan in 2016.

“It is a worrying company, and if you look at it, it has all the problematic traits,” he said.

Rafizi added that the caretaker government and its agencies were restricted upon the dissolution of Parliament and should not be involved in any contractual commitments or undertakings that could bind, burden or have financial implications on the government formed after the 15th general election, referring to a circular from the Ministry of Finance (MOF.BPK (S) 600-1/1/4) dated October 18 of this year.

He also claimed that the project award had been carried out under Jana Wibawa, an economic generation programme created to empower competent Bumiputera contractors.

“Billions were awarded in the last two years under Jana Wibawa on the pretext of giving projects to Bumiputera companies,” Rafizi said.

He then promised more revelations related to Jana Wibawa during his next press conference on Wednesday.