PETALING JAYA: De facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan was acting in his capacity as the coordinating minister between the federal and Kedah state governments when he discussed a water treatment plant project in Kedah between Takiyuddin and finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz.
Takiyuddin’s political secretary, Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, said Takiyuddin had been appointed to the position by the prime minister on Sept 1, adding that the WhatsApp chat between the two miniters was being spread to “tarnish the good name” of the relevant parties.
“The screenshot of the Whatsapp chat was deliberately taken out of context with the malicious intention to create a negative perception and tarnish the good name of all parties,” Wan Rohimi said.
In a statement, Wan Rohimi explained that among Takiyuddin’s tasks in his capacity as the coordinating minister was to serve as a facilitator on issues such as development projects between various ministries, departments and agencies of the federal and Kedah state governments.
In the Whatsapp chat that has gone viral on social media, Takiyuddin asked for Tengku Zafrul’s opinion regarding a proposed joint venture between state-owned Bina Darulaman Berhad (BDB) and Taliworks Corporation for the Pelubang water treatment plant.
Takiyuddin told Tengku Zafrul that BDB already has a partner for the project and asked for the finance minister’s opinion, after which Tengku Zafrul said it would be best for BDB to meet with Taliworks’ controlling shareholder, Lim Chee Meng.
“Then, I will brief the prime minister. Because (the) state needs a technical partner,” Takiyuddin said.
Takiyuddin then said Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor had proposed another water project in Langkawi with Taliworks, which was worth RM550 million, to which Zafrul replied “Oh ok”.
“But for direct negotiations, we also need to make sure that the partner/joint venture for the state company is strong technically and financially,” added Tengku Zafrul.
Wan Rohimi also attached a statement by Sanusi dated yesterday which explained the projects that were discussed in the leaked conversation.
In the statement, Sanusi said that he requested the Kedah-federal coordinating minister (Takiyuddin) to follow up on the state’s request to the finance ministry for federal funding as “time was running out” to complete the Pelubang water treatment plant and guarantee water supply in several districts.