Open tender for direct booking for advertising? Ridiculous, embattled says Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen.

Censuring Selangor exco member Teresa Kok for commenting on the issue vis-a-vis the ministry, Ng told her to “do your homework first before you open your mouth!”

This was her response to the Seputeh member of parliament who had previously suggested that open tenders could minimise the cost of advertising for the tourism ministry.

“Teresa Kok does not understand the term, ‘direct booking’. She better (should) go and do (her) homework (on) what is direct booking.

“In direct booking, the advertisers are firmly set. They don’t negotiate on prices.

“So, my advice to Teresa Kok is, do your homework (first) before you open your mouth,” she told reporters after launching the Accor’s Destination Malaysia Website in Putrajaya today.

Earlier, Kok had claimed that the ministry mismanaged the government process and public funds by choosing to engage in direct bookings, instead of using the open tender processes, in relation to its paid advertisement contacts.

She was referring to the recent Auditor-General’s Report for 2010 which stated that 72 percent of the advertisement contracts secured by the ministry were via direct negotiations with various providers, rather than through a process of open tenders.

Commenting further, Ng said it was typical of Kok to try to find issues when there were none.

“But this time, she has shown her lack of knowledge and ignorance (on the issue),” she added.

- Bernama

Related stories

Shahrizat under more pressure over feedlot project

Opposition MP moves to dock PM's salary by a month

Double payment for river cruise boat supplier

'Poor planning behind underused baggage system'

EC to be poll reform PSC's first witness

RM15.9bil allocated for petrol and diesel subsidies