Last Updated: 3:15pm, Jan 08, 2014

PETALING JAYA (Jan 8): PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli has alleged that Wanita Umno exco Datuk Raja Ropiaah Abdullah has received RM13 million for 'free' over the National Defence Education Centre (Puspahanas) project.

Rafizi cited that the Puspahanas deal can be considered as null and void due to breaches in the Land Sale Agreement's salient terms but Raja Ropiaah’s company, Awan Megah (M) Sdn Bhd, received the RM13 million from Astacanggih Sdn Bhd, formerly owned by controversial businessman Deepak Jaikishan.

To make things more convoluted, Boustead Holdings Berhad, a company whose majority shares are owned by Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT), bought over the majority shares of Astacanggih last year for RM160 million, in order to complete the project.

“Awan Megah and Boustead (and its fully owned subsidiary, Bakti Wira) has to fulfil the terms and conditions within three months from the date of signing the agreement. The conditions precedent must be fulfilled.

“The deal was signed on Dec 2012 and by March 2013, all the salient conditions of the Land Sale Agreement must be met. Till today, the three salient conditions were not fulfilled,” said Rafizi.

The salient terms of the Land Sale Agreement are as follows:

“The Proposed Acquisition of Lands is subject to the following conditions precedent:-

(i) The execution of the supplemental agreement to the Privatisation Agreement between Awan Megah and the Government of Malaysia and Syarikat Tanah and Harta Sdn Bhd (“Supplemental Agreement”);

(ii) The approval of relevant authorities for the transfer of the Lands to be obtained by Astacanggih (if applicable);

(iii) The termination or mutual rescission of the Joint-Venture Agreement and Supplemental Agreement, between Awan Megah and Guppyunip Sdn Bhd in respect of the Lands.

Rafizi said he had questioned Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein recently over the status of the matter and read out the ministerial reply dated Oct 2 last year that the deal was “still in the works”.

“The Minister’s answer was that the Puspahanas building will be completed by Oct 2014. Additional agreements between Awan Megah and the government is still on-going and has not been finalised,” said Rafizi.

He criticised that the agreement had proceeded despite the breaches in the contract.

“There’s no new land bond to penalise Awan Megah in case they are tardy again. The contract between Awan Megah and the government is null and void because there is no land bond and they are doing this despite public scrutiny and reprimand,” said Rafizi.

Awan Megah, he said must prepare a land bond totalling up to RM87,554,408.31 to replace the old land bond which had expired.

In his capacity as Pandan MP, Rafizi said he will request the Auditor General’s office to step in and audit the Puspahanas project for this year’s report.

At the time of publication, Raja Ropiaah was not available for comment.

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