National Assembly Construction Commission Chairman Cheam Yeap said Tuesday that he is considering suing Giang Shi Trading and Construction Co, Ltd, a local subsidiary of Australian contractor 5 Golden Stars P/L, if an apology is not made for accusations that the contractor was unfairly cut from a deal to design and build the new Assembly building.
Kim Khieng, director of Giang Shi Trading and Construction, last Thursday accused the Assembly Commission of dropping 5 Golden Stars without notice after the contractor had already secured a $15 million loan to finance the project.
Kim Khieng appealed to Funcinpec lawmaker Keo Remy to help him “find justice” and ensure the Assembly’s neutrality after the commission gave the contract to the Ly Chhuong Construction, Import and Export Co—a contractor that did not even make the commission’s original short list.
Cheam Yeap said on Tuesday, “If [Kim Khieng] curses me a thousand times, I don’t care. But the accusation affects the National Assembly’s reputation.”
He added that the commission stopped courting 5 Golden Stars after issuing a letter of intent dated Nov 8, 2002, because the company never showed evidence of being able to finance the project.
“We have a schedule for the construction. We wanted to settle the contract by [the end of the last three-month] legislative session. We were stuck, and that is why we chose a new [contractor],” Cheam Yeap said.
Kim Khieng refused an invitation to meet with the commission Tuesday, saying “If [Cheam Yeap] wants to invite me to meet, he should please send me a letter.”
He also declined to apologize. “I don’t even know my mistakes. Why should I apologize? [Cheam Yeap] should show me my mistakes before I apologize,” he said.
Kim Khieng said that his company decided to seek compensation for its efforts after 5 Golden Stars Director David Walsh visited Cambodia late last year and Cheam Yeap refused to meet him.
Cheam Yeap said Tuesday that meeting Walsh would have been futile because the commission had already chosen a new contractor.
