KUALA LUMPUR: The return of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the Prime Minister has brought back cronyism, claims MCA.

“Before the 14th general election, MCA has already warned that the return of Dr Mahathir will bring back ‘Mahathirism’, especially cronyism. Now that he is back, since Pakatan Harapan formed the Government, there are several issues believed to be related to cronyism,” said MCA publicity bureau deputy chief Mike Chong Yew Chuan at a press conference.

He cited a few examples including the award of RM11.16mil contract to Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir's firm Opcom Holdings Bhd by Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM), Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd was appointed as one of the fuel suppliers for government vehicles on Aug 3 last year,  among others.

The awards stirred criticism, stemming from the connection of Petron to Dr Mahathir’s son, Mirzan Mahathir, who is a director of Petron Corp.

Petron later clarified that it has gone through proper accreditation to be awarded as one of the fuel suppliers for government vehicles.

Meanwhile, Chong also said Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto clearly stated that only those with capabilities and professionals who are free from political influences shall be appointed as directors of government-linked companies.

“But some of the appointments contradict with the manifesto,” he said, citing the appointment of Dr Mahathir as the chairman and Datuk Seri Azmin Ali as a director of Khazanah Nasional. 

Chong said Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia vice-president Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman’s statement that the gains by the party must be protected at all costs - even if it means granting contracts to division chiefs is also worrying.

“A PKR leader also threatened Orang Asli village chiefs to support Pakatan Harapan in the Cameron Highlands by-election,” he said.

“This is an abuse of government resources and a humiliation to the democracy,” he said,  urging voters of Cameron Highlands to reject Pakatan’s cronyism.

-The Star-