Why is Zafrul hesitant to list direct negotiation projects?

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Zafrul's Hesitation to List Direct Negotiation Projects is Linked to Potential Embarrassment for Current Ministers

Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders have urged Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz to clarify a RM6.61 billion figure related to projects approved via direct negotiation under the previous PH administration. PH MPs suggest Zafrul may be reluctant to provide a full list of these 101 projects because it could expose current ministers, who served in the PH government, as having also sought project approvals through direct negotiations.
Calls for Transparency Regarding the RM6.61 Billion Figure

DAP's Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng has directly challenged Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz to reveal the methodology behind the RM6.61 billion figure and to publish the list of 101 projects purportedly approved via direct negotiations during the PH administration. Lim accused Zafrul of evading the issue and suggested that the minister's reluctance stems from a fear of embarrassing current ministers who were part of the PH government and had themselves applied for projects using this method.
Comparison with Previous Direct Negotiation Approvals

Lim Guan Eng contrasted the RM6.61 billion figure with the substantial RM139.336 billion allocated for 12 projects approved via direct negotiations during the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) administration. This comparison aims to contextualise the scale of direct negotiation approvals and question the specific focus on the PH administration's RM6.61 billion figure.
Defense of Direct Negotiations Under Specific Circumstances

Several former PH ministers, including Mohamad Sabu, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, and Dr Xavier Jayakumar, have defended the use of direct negotiations. They argued that such a procurement method is sometimes necessary for reasons of national security or to address urgent repair needs, citing examples such as immediate bridge repairs in a constituency. They also indicated that ministers within the current Perikatan Nasional (PN) government had themselves made requests for projects via direct negotiations when they were part of the PH administration.
Parliamentary Disruption Over Clarification Request

The debate surrounding the RM6.61 billion figure led to a disruption in Parliament, with DAP's Beruas MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham being ejected from the House. His ejection occurred when he sought clarification from the finance minister on the RM6.61 billion in projects approved under the former PH administration during Zafrul's winding-up speech.

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Why is Zafrul hesitant to list direct negotiation projects?

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