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Now, Putrajaya denies giving RM100 million grant to bank-rejected firm

Putrajaya today denied that it had awarded NSE Resources Corporation Malaysia Sdn Bhd (NSERC) a RM100 million grant, as claimed by a PKR leader.

Malaysiakini reported that Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Abu Bakar Mohd Diah today revealed the list of grant recipients by his ministry.

The list, which has more than 4,000 grant recipients, did not include NSERC as alleged by PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli.

In a press conference earlier today, Rafizi revealed that NSERC had managed to secure two grants totalling RM150 million from different ministries.

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation had allegedly awarded RM100 million to NSERC, while the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry allocated an additional RM50 million.

Rafizi also called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to explain the special relationship between NSERC and Putrajaya.

The PKR strategy director yesterday disclosed documents from NSERC which revealed that the company had faced difficulties in obtaining financial backing from banks.

Rafizi said this development raised questions over Putrajaya's decision-making process in awarding public funds.

Abu Bakar questioned the authenticity of the letters produced by Rafizi, besides denying Rafizi's allegations.

"The ministry's records do not show any single private firm which was awarded more than RM3 million, out of the total RM2.9 billion allocated under the 9th Malaysia Plan," he said.

Over the past two days, Rafizi distributed four letters which were supposedly high-level and secretive correspondence between Najib and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin.

Rafizi today exposed yet another NSERC correspondence, this time revealing that the firm had received an additional RM50 million grant from Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry.

He called on Najib to be open about the awarding of RM150 million grant to NSERC and provide an official explanation.

He also urged Putrajaya to immediately stop the grants and form expert panels to evaluate the company's R&D credentials.

He said the government should also rope in the Auditor General's Office to investigate, while he would file a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission next week if the case does not draw a response from Najib. – April 23, 2014.