YOURSAY | Our 'smart' lamp posts that cost RM154,000 each

YOURSAY | 'DBKL must provide full details relating to the matter.'

RM30.75m to replace 200 lamp posts? Kepong MP wants explanation

DBKL's denial on RM30.75m lamp post contract raises more questions

SCIB clarifies that unit was appointed sub-contractor for DBKL lamp works

OrangePanther1466: Let me postulate a little. So, it appears that Ennova is running a business where it builds transmission towers cum lamp posts which are leased out to telecommunication companies (telcos) to roll out their 5G networks.

For this, Ennova rents the sites from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and pays rent. Ennova's revenue will be from the leasing charges it receives from the telcos and its expenses will be in the form of maintenance and upkeep of the towers. Hopefully, revenue will exceed expenses for Ennova to make a profit.

Have I got it right?

If this is so, why can't Ennova just come up with this explanation in the first place? Why do you need sub-contractor Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd (SCIB) to provide an explanation, which actually draws more questions than answers?

Frankly, if my explanation is right, SCIB's involvement is irrelevant to DBKL as it is Ennova's choice to appoint SCIB and they bear the risk. At the end of the day, the people just want to know who ultimately bears the RM30.75 million for a mere 200 lamp poles.

BrownCheetah9736: This is a very creative way to make money at the expense of DBKL. Whilst it may be true that DBKL did not fork out RM30.75 million, it stands to lose much more in terms of opportunity cost.

For readers who may not understand what’s happening, here’s what’s being done:

DBKL leases the land to Ennova. Ennova may incur costs constructing the poles, but will then sub-lease the poles to 5G companies at possibly an inflated price.

So why can’t DBKL lease the land directly to the 5G companies instead of going through an artificial middleman? This arrangement has cost DBKL to lose a potential higher revenue.

Demi Rakyat: "SCIB, through its subsidiary SCIB Properties Sdn Bhd, had received an appointment letter for an EPCC (engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning) contract worth RM30.75 million from Ennova…"

So, RM30.75 million is just a sub-contractor sum. Ennova is the main contractor that was apparently appointed by DBKL. What is the original contractor sum?

Newday: There is a pretty standard clause in DBKL contracts that the head contractor cannot sub-let all or part of the works without formal permission from the client - DBKL.

DBKL denied any knowledge of this sub-contractor. Also, sub-contractors should have the required expertise in the works that are being sublet.

Has DBKL followed its own requirements or turned the standard blind eye?

Malaysier: It's funny and also mysterious that a job awarded by the government has to go through several companies.

Why not award it directly to the company that possesses the technical knowledge and capability to carry out the job?

YellowKite1308: Perception is everything. It seems in Malaysia, all government contracts are awarded to 'ticket gouging' companies.

The only value-added these companies have is their ability to manage the expectations of the decision-makers.

Mazilamani: Thinking Malaysians are no longer blind, deaf and gullible. They are inquisitive and see it as their right to be well-informed, since it is their hard-earned tax monies that support all government projects in the country.

The minister and his officers are obliged to satisfactorily answer our doubts and suspicions, and the quicker the better.

We can only serve our responsibility as voters at the ballot boxes to choose the right government, with the facts before us.

DBKL, don't see it as an accusation but as an opportunity to clarify the concerns of the awakened rakyat.

Dr Raman Letchumanan: Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, as an opposition MP in Kuala Lumpur, you should have the authority and means to find out further details about the project, like how the cost is justified, systems specification, the vendor and what due process has it gone through.

All the MPs in KL should march to the mayor's office and demand an explanation. The mayor can't just refuse to entertain you all. Only then we can go to the next step, like lodging a MACC report. Otherwise, your protest is no different from the voice of Malaysiakini commenters here.

Please also note that Pakatan Harapan in Selangor has also behaved the same.

I personally have written several columns, based on my own research, on the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve and the re-zoning of the Monterez Golf Resort in Shah Alam, even pointing out the possible tampering in the Shah Alam Local Plan. But there was absolute silence from the DAP and PKR MPs who were in charge of these projects.

What I am saying is that the KL mayor can also give you the cold shoulder likewise.

The opposition needs to be responsible. Otherwise, such looting will go on all over Malaysia. The MPs will only cry hell and fury just to score political points.

Just A Malaysian: This is the driver of our economy. Not production of goods or technology, but the high leakages of public spending, GLCs (government-linked companies) and government institutions.

These leakages provide the engine of consumption and drive the economy. It works short-term. Remember the mini-boom we had during Najib Razak’s era?

Borrowing and spending with high leakages flush the country with liquidity. Stock prices go up, property prices go up, consumption goes up and everybody is happy.

But the country’s foundation weakens and leaves us unable to support our post-Covid recovery and fight hyperinflation. To bring in more revenue, they want to implement GST and suck another RM40 billion from the suffering rakyat, so that they can use the money to buy more overpriced items.

The vicious cycle continues until we crashed.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.