The government's concession contracts for six new campuses of University Teknologi Mara (UiTM) should be open for public scrutiny, says the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low.
Speaking in general terms, Low, who is in charge of integrity, said all non-security matters should be dealt with in greater transparency.
"We should move to (be) more open and transparent," said Low.
"I like to see more transparency and disclosure, especially on non-security matters.”
However, Low (right), stressed that this was his personal view.
He said he has raised the issue of disclosure of public contracts in a cabinet meeting two to three months after he assumed office, but "there were different views" in the cabinet.
Low said this when asked about the expose by PKR’s Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli on concessions for six UiTM campuses, which Rafizi he said only benefitted politically-linked individuals.
Rafizi claimed that the private financing initiatives meant that the government would have to fork out RM8.6 billion for the six projects, and not just RM1.8 billion as should be the esitmated cost.
However, Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Rafizi (left) did not understand the PFI method and that the government will clarify further on this.
Asked whether there was any element of cronyism, money politics, corruption or abuse of power in the six concessions given to Umno leaders and related persons, Low seem reluctant to answer.
"I cannot say that. You make the judgment yourself according to the figures," he said, adding that his colleague and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Wahid Omar has answered on this.
"Whatever is it, I am not a politician," he said and dismissed further questions.
'It's not all corruption'
Meanwhile, Low also urged the public to distinguish between mismanagement, incompetence and corruption.
“Corruption means we abuse power we entrusted upon...Often, we tend to see any issue as corruption.
"Sometimes, there was just pure mismanagement, some may be genuine ignorance and lack of skill,” he said.
He said this in reference to a survey, where 850 students aged 18 to 23 perceived political parties, police, officials in the government bodies to be most corrupted.
"For the students, I would like to ask them, have you been asked to bribe or bribe the past one or two years?
"When you say corruption, it's better to back it up with experience and evidence," he said.
The former Transparency International-Malaysia president then refered to the Global Corruption Barometer, where only three percent of the respondents in Malaysia admitted that they either paid bribes or were asked to pay bribes, which was the same with Japan and Singapore.
As such, Low said, Malaysia was not at a worrying level in terms of petty and daily instances of bribery.
Speaking in general terms, Low, who is in charge of integrity, said all non-security matters should be dealt with in greater transparency.
"We should move to (be) more open and transparent," said Low."I like to see more transparency and disclosure, especially on non-security matters.”
However, Low (right), stressed that this was his personal view.
He said he has raised the issue of disclosure of public contracts in a cabinet meeting two to three months after he assumed office, but "there were different views" in the cabinet.
Low said this when asked about the expose by PKR’s Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli on concessions for six UiTM campuses, which Rafizi he said only benefitted politically-linked individuals.
Rafizi claimed that the private financing initiatives meant that the government would have to fork out RM8.6 billion for the six projects, and not just RM1.8 billion as should be the esitmated cost.
However, Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Rafizi (left) did not understand the PFI method and that the government will clarify further on this.Asked whether there was any element of cronyism, money politics, corruption or abuse of power in the six concessions given to Umno leaders and related persons, Low seem reluctant to answer.
"I cannot say that. You make the judgment yourself according to the figures," he said, adding that his colleague and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Wahid Omar has answered on this.
"Whatever is it, I am not a politician," he said and dismissed further questions.
'It's not all corruption'
Meanwhile, Low also urged the public to distinguish between mismanagement, incompetence and corruption.
“Corruption means we abuse power we entrusted upon...Often, we tend to see any issue as corruption.
"Sometimes, there was just pure mismanagement, some may be genuine ignorance and lack of skill,” he said.
He said this in reference to a survey, where 850 students aged 18 to 23 perceived political parties, police, officials in the government bodies to be most corrupted.
"For the students, I would like to ask them, have you been asked to bribe or bribe the past one or two years?
"When you say corruption, it's better to back it up with experience and evidence," he said.
The former Transparency International-Malaysia president then refered to the Global Corruption Barometer, where only three percent of the respondents in Malaysia admitted that they either paid bribes or were asked to pay bribes, which was the same with Japan and Singapore.
As such, Low said, Malaysia was not at a worrying level in terms of petty and daily instances of bribery.
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