PUTRAJAYA – The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) has issued a warning to combat bid rigging cartels orchestrated by companies or contractors involved in any procurements at the ministry.
Hence, the ministry is taking proactive steps by collaborating with the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) in efforts to curb bid rigging cartel activities that could harm KBS.
Therefore, offers from companies/contractors participating in tenders and quotations will be scrutinised not only in technical and financial aspects but also to ensure freedom from bid rigging or collusion cartels.
Among the three main areas that KBS and MyCC will focus on through this cooperation are advocacy on anti-competition, policy advice from MyCC, and information sharing as well as reporting suspected cases that may constitute violations under the Competition Act 2010 for further investigation.
“KBS wants to remind companies or contractors to make non-collusion declarations and not to be involved in any price-fixing arrangements when participating in any procurements at KBS.
“We do not want costs to increase due to this cartel issue.
“If the committee feels something is amiss in the bids, MyCC will be activated.
“MyCC will examine why all these bids have similar prices and other details because we want this process to be transparent and the work to be given to those who are truly capable of carrying it out,” said Minister Hannah Yeoh in a press conference here today.
Meanwhile, MyCC CEO Iskandar Ismail said his team could impose penalties of 10% of the tender revenue or suggest to the Finance Ministry to blacklist companies for a few years if found guilty.
“Bid rigging cartels have occurred frequently in Malaysia; we are currently investigating over 500 companies involved in tenders exceeding RM3 billion.
“Therefore, we hope that the relevant parties, especially other ministries, can cooperate like KBS,” he said. – March 22, 2024