THE Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry has maintained that Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s controversial RM32.4 million flower deal is open and above board.

In a statement to Malay Mail yesterday, its minister Senator Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said he welcomed the DAP Federal Territory reporting allegations about the flower supply and landscaping contract to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“The ministry, particularly City Hall, is open to being investigated. We have nothing to hide. The issuance of the contract was done according to procedure. We will provide full cooperation to MACC in their investigation.”

Raja Nong Chik reiterated that he himself concurred with mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail on the decision to not renew the three-year contract, after it expired on Feb 23.

“The decision was made in consideration of the current economic state and priority towards people-centric projects.”

He added that at the time, the flower deal was carried out to beautify several areas in the city in conjunction with ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2007’.

Last week, it was reported that Ahmad Fuad had revoked the three-year RM32.4 million contract for the supply
of flowers, which had purportedly cost ratepayers RM900,000 a month.

On Monday, DAP FT lodged a report with MACC on alleged corrupt practices by City Hall and its former top officials pertaining to the flower contract, and a road building project from Taman Metropolitan Pudu Ulu to Jalan 3/91A Shamelin Perkasa, costing RM7 million.

DAP FT lodged the report at the MACC office in Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, despite Ahmad Fuad’s clarification that the supply of flowers and plants were not for City Hall’s tower office in Jalan Raja Abdullah but for other areas in the city centre.