The DAP secretary-general pointed out that Wee had said in August 2020 the RM4.5 billion KVDT2 project was overpriced and would be reopened for tender.
However, last week, Wee confirmed that the project would continue under Dhaya Maju-LTAT Sdn Bhd and still cost RM4.5 billion.
“Wee should eat his own words as the government is still carrying out the direct negotiation deal. He just wanted to score political points previously,” said Loke at a press conference.
In September 2020, Dhaya Maju-LTAT sued the government, Wee and two others after Putrajaya terminated its KVDT2 contract. The suit came to an end after both parties finalised their settlement on Aug 2.
The dispute arose after finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz released a list of 101 projects worth RM6.61 billion awarded through direct negotiations during the PH administration, including the KVDT2 project.
Loke said an open tender process could not be carried out by the PH government as the contract was finalised based on a deal signed by the previous Barisan Nasional administration.
“We had no choice but to continue with the project since there would be legal implications if we backed out as a Letter of Acceptance had already been given to the previous government,” he said, adding that the project was “passed on” to PH.
Loke also challenged Wee and Tengku Zafrul to list the number of projects they had awarded through open tenders and direct negotiations in their time as ministers so far.
“Since Wee looks like he wants to be the ‘open tender hero’, he should be able to list his projects,” he said.
The KVDT2 project involves the rehabilitation of 265km of railway tracks from Salak South in Kuala Lumpur to Seremban and from Simpang Port Klang (near Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur) to Port Klang.
The project had been delayed twice since 2017. It was cancelled by the PH government, then reinstated and then axed again by the Perikatan Nasional government. This led to a suit by the contractor, Dhaya Maju-LTAT.
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