In a swift act to counter our expose on fuel subsidy card contract revealed on Wednesday here, the propaganda machinery behind Datasonic went on overdrive.
NST ran a story yesterday on the fuel card bid and TV3 also ran a story on yesterday's Bulletin Utama on NST story. [See it on Tonton.com here]
Smart PR move. They had to expedite the process and make things transparent. However, it is noticeable that both NST and TV3 tried to playdown Datasonic, a powerful and major player in the smart card business. On Tuesday, Dato Hasan Malek welcomed proposals but by Thursday, public is told that many have submitted tender
This so-called transparency will not hide a fact that the contract have been pre-determined for Datasonic-led consortium, Fuel Sub House Sdn Bhd. and the so-called tender result will prove so. This group got it because they are buddy buddy with Dato Abdul Wahid Omar and he had given away hint that he is not comfortable.
The public will not agree to this new system. Voters will hate the government for it. This openness is still a facade because it is also noticeable that en tender. with two major players in the smart card business; Sapura and MEPS not in.
MCA and Gerakan is right to say it is open to widespread abuse and smuggling. Address the fuel subsidy leakage and stop use of fuel subsidy to foreigners and business first.
The NST story yesterday below:
In TV3, Fuel Sub was mentioned as the third name with MyEg.com as the lead story. While, NST pictographic present Fuel Sub in the last part.
2 more join forces for fuel subsidy plan
By THARANYA ARUMUGAM -
NST 26 June 2014 @ 8:07 AM
KUALA LUMPUR: TWO public-listed companies, Pos Malaysia Berhad and Datasonic Group Berhad, have joined forces in their bid to secure the concession from the government to manage the impending Fuel Subsidy Rationalisation Programme, it emerged yesterday.
The two companies, a source said, had submitted their proposal via Fuelsubs House Sdn Bhd, a company they formed as the vehicle to manage the programme.
“Pos Malaysia and Datasonic are also using their vehicle (Fuelsubs House) as a project manager and service provider (for the scheme),” the source told the New Straits Times.
Fuelsubs House is among the seven companies which had submitted their proposals to the government to plug the loopholes in the current subsidised fuel distribution system to more than 10 million Malaysians.
Two of the companies are foreign-based entities, one of which is based in Singapore, and another linked to former cabinet minister, Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.
The other firms are MyEG Services Berhad, IRIS Corporation Berhad, ICASH Global Rewards Sdn Bhd and MOL AccessPortal Sdn Bhd.
Each proposal covers mechanisms on how the government can effectively address abuses and leakages, which has cost the government in the billions of ringgit in losses, and facilitate practical implementation of the distribution of subsidised fuel.
Each company had also proposed to use either the MyKad, Fleet Card, Smart Card, Biometric, cash and coupon as the platforms to address the loopholes in the current system.
Each platform, however, would trigger a different impact on the capital expenditure and upfront payment to be borne by the government, ranging from RM200 million to RM1 billion.
Some companies also proposed that they are given total ownership and control of their system hardware and database, but the government would unlikely consider due the amount of personal data involved, especially when foreign-based companies are involved.
“The national postal company (Pos Malaysia) plans to utilise their logistic strength of more than 700 post offices nationwide to manage subsidised fuel applications from Malaysians.
“Datasonic, meanwhile, will utilise their expertise in smart card (such as secure ID or chip-based credit, debit and bank cards).”
Fuelsubs House had proposed to use the MyKad and Fleet Card as the platforms for the distribution of subsidised fuel.
“The company has also suggested that their mechanisms will not require big funding from the government and can be implemented almost immediately due to the usage of the existing MyKad and Fleet Card.”
The source said the company did not ask to be given total ownership and control over database and confidential personal data for them to manage the scheme.
“They have suggested that the data to remain under government agency, National Subsidy Corporation Bhd.”
On Tuesday, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Hasan Malek had said the government was in the midst of studying the proposals and only the one that benefited the people would be considered by the cabinet. The plan was expected be rolled out in September.
Fuel Subs House Sdn Bhd: 30% Datasonic Bhd, 70% shared among Innovative Associate, E&Y, Razali Naina Merican, Dato Habibur Rahman and two Chongs, Steven dan Chua.
Datasonic supposed to handle hardware, systems and smartcards. EY the consulting and biz processes).
And, the "Chongs" are the ones moving in the market packaging the whole thing and approaching the vendors.
The name Razali Naina Merican rings a bell. Habibur Rahman is a name no many knows but we know who is this former Nestle Manager.
If there is a need for a fuel card, it must be done with transparency and fair evaluation done with all deemed qualified be given a fair bite of the apple.
No need the secrecy and rush.
These Fuel Sub people have been throwing names left right and centre. Our unhappy source claimed they have been intimidating government officers including Petronas Dagang but they couldn't show the Letter of Award.
Pos Malaysia would likely be involved in logistics. However, it will not make the public happy to have to register with Pos Malaysia to enjoy fuel subsidy.
How about those people in the interiors in Sabah, Sarawak and even Pahang where Pos Malaysia does not reach and it will take days if not weeks for the fuel card to reach? No fuel card system will be implemented there.
Are they to be denied fuel subsidy? As it is, there are. Transport cost made their fuel cost extremely expensive.
If we can read from the Joint Venture and shareholding structure, profit could likely be thin. One IT businessman told us they can't make the expected return and the cards are likely to printed in China to be cheaper. 70 sen ma ...
It will not be safe security-wise to have our cards printed abroad. It is also an avenue for abuse and a sure chaos.
The fuel card idea is not that great an idea and no big deal technology wise. Any local geek can come up with something better. Our lade source in MoF said also that these people stole someone's idea.
As it is, the fuel card proposal is missing the most important point that the bulk of fuel subsidy leakage is due to smuggling.
Our estimate in the previous posting place it at more than 60%!!!
Why the need for another card in our wallet when there are already our MyKad and every Malaysians already own one?
The fuel card system will be a burden on the public and will cause a backlash against government. The Government already have lots of problems to solve and deal with.
Not another one please.