Bersatu ticks off MACC's silence over revelation DPM's daughter on board of company awarded KL Tower concession

A Bersatu leader has questioned the silence of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) after it was revealed that the daughter of a senior government leader sits on the board of a company that was awarded a 20-year contract to manage the Kuala Lumpur Tower, the iconic structure currently at the centre of a legal battle following a controversial eviction of its previous concession holder.

Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan said the seriousness of the revelation made by several Perikatan Nasional MPs last week should have prompted MACC to spring into action.

"But so far, the authorities, especially the MACC, seem to have done nothing. Although I know from experience that MACC can instruct its officers to file a report to initiate an investigation," said Wan Saiful.

On Aug 27, Gerik MP Fathul Huzir Ayob raised the issue of whether cronyism played a part in Putrajaya's decision to award the KL Tower management concession to LSH Service Master Sdn Bhd, a company under tycoon Lim Keng Cheng's Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd.

He cited the Companies Commission of Malaysia's records which showed that Khairunnisa Fadillah, the daughter of Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof, sits on the board of LSH Best Builders Sdn Bhd, another LSH company which is 70% owned by LSH Service Master Sdn Bhd.

Fathul also questioned the government's decision to reduce Bumiputera stake in the operation of Menara Kuala Lumpur from 100% to 30%, saying it contradicts the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan 2035.

"This has a huge impact and restricts Bumiputera businesses, especially in strategic areas in Kuala Lumpur's Golden Triangle," he said.

The tower's previous concession holder, Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd (MKLSB), and its parent company Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd have filed a lawsuit against the Malaysian government and LSH Capital, claiming that they are the rightful operators of the tower as the communications ministry had agreed in 2022 to extend the concession until 2039.

The suit also revolves around losses of more than RM300 million in losses in the form of liabilities incurred by Hydroshoppe in its acquisition of MKLSB shares from Telekom Malaysia in 2022.

Despite the ongoing legal battle, authorities mobilised law enforcement officers including the police, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and the Federal Commissioner of Lands on the night of April 16 to allow LSH Service Master to take over the tower, before sealing it off to visitors for a week.

Hydroshoppe has criticised Putrajaya's interference in the dispute and has commenced contempt of court proceedings against Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, the Malaysian government and LSH, with an appeal scheduled for tomorrow.

Wan Saiful said MACC could easily get more details of the opposition MPs' revelations as they are in the public records.

"Why has nothing been done until today?  MACC should not remain silent without providing an answer. All the data is in the SSM records," he said, adding that the KL Tower concession issue is of public interest and must be taken seriously by MACC and the Cabinet.