The Minister of Housing and Local Government, YB Nga Kor Ming, needs to cease dodging the MyKiosk pricing issue and immediately disclose the full list of each unit’s costs across all states. He should also submit the relevant documents to the Public Accounts Committee so that Malaysians can get the answers they deserve. 

The MyKiosk programme has come under public scrutiny for over two weeks, yet Minister Nga continues to avoid answering the key question: Why do MyKiosks—built to the same specifications—cost vastly different depending on the state?

No one is questioning that MyKiosk 2.0 has more features than the previous version. But the Minister has failed to explain what those added features cost—or why the price has in some cases nearly doubled. If there is nothing to hide, why not release the data for public review?

Is it so difficult to give a direct answer? Citizens are not interested in the Minister’s political rhetoric or photo ops. The rakyat demand answers: How are public funds being spent? Are they being spent prudently?

To cite an example: Minister Nga said kiosks in Taiping and Ipoh cost only RM13,000. But in Melaka, the cost reportedly soars to RM22,000 for the same kiosk model. That’s a difference of RM9,000—how is that acceptable? Even if transport costs vary, no logistics service justifies that kind of gap.

Official data from local councils in Melaka show that on 28 August 2023, the MyKiosk tender ranged between RM20,000 and RM22,000. But that raises more questions: was this for MyKiosk 1.0 or 2.0? Because the Minister himself previously said 1.0 should not exceed RM15,000, while 2.0 should stay under RM25,000. If tenders from 2023 were already near the maximum price, something doesn’t add up.

This isn’t just a financial issue—it’s about fairness, transparency, and public trust. Are procurement procedures being followed? Are some contractors exploiting the system? Or did the Ministry itself fail to ensure consistent standards nationwide?

The fact that such wild price differences exist, despite a standardised kiosk design, is deeply troubling. If the Ministry has done nothing wrong, then Minister Nga should have no issue handing over all cost data to the Public Accounts Committee for independent scrutiny.

The rakyat deserve full transparency. Every ringgit spent under the MyKiosk programme should be accounted for. We cannot allow public funds to be used without proper checks and balances. If there is nothing to hide, then prove it—open the books and let the facts speak for themselves.

Saw Yee Fung
MCA Youth Secretary General

-MCA Comm-