Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz today revealed in Parliament that the contract signed between the government and the controversial communication consultant giant Apco Worldwide amounted to a whopping RM77 million.
In a written reply to Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) to his query on the fees paid to Apco, the amount provided by Nazri is more than twice what was earlier reported.Chua referred to a newspaper report which quoted Nazri as saying that the amount paid to Apco was RM28 million.
"Convert this to ringgit and you will get almost RM77 million," he said based on last year's currency exchange rate.
"I don't know whether he was mistaken or his conversion rate of ringgit to US dollars is different. Maybe he thinks that the Malaysian ringgit is still strong, almost on one to one with the dollar?"
Chua also expressed his disbelief that much money is being paid to a foreign contractor for a task which could have been performed by a local company.
Chua also expressed his disbelief that much money is being paid to a foreign contractor for a task which could have been performed by a local company.
He said that the RM77 million contract was for one year.
"Are Apco's services so special that we need to pay so much? Why wasn't a local company employed? I am sure there are local firms that can do the job."
"Are Apco's services so special that we need to pay so much? Why wasn't a local company employed? I am sure there are local firms that can do the job."
courtesy of Malaysiakini
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