ACC alleged marks tampering before portal access: Akram

Former Minister of State for Housing Akram Kamaluddin on Wednesday said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) cannot rightfully claim that the marks have been tampered-with at the Gedhoruverin portal of the Housing Ministry, which conducted the process of flat applications and awarding marks, before the ministry granted ACC access to the portal.

Former state minister for housing Akram Kamaluddin and senior executive director of the ministry Mohammad Arif were presented before the parliamentary petitions committee on Wednesday for questioning over the erstwhile government’s housing scheme, which had been put on hold by the ACC.

In the committee, Kelaa MP Ibrahim Shareef questioned how the ACC could declare that changes had been made in the system before it had access to the flat portal or the system.

Housing Minister Dr Ali Haider had earlier said that the government has decided to give access to the system at the request of the ACC and after making necessary changes requested by the ACC. Access will be given on Thursday, the minister told the petition committee on Tuesday.

Speaking in the committee, Akram, who also chaired the committee set up by the previous government to look into land and flat applications, said the ACC cannot rightfully say that marks have been changed within the system without getting access to the system first.

The ACC will only see, according to Akram, a report that was then printed and sent to the ACC showing how the marks were awarded.

"They probably said yesterday that they still don't have access [to the system] here, right? So, when they don't have access, I'm very disappointed that they said otherwise without clarifying with us," Akram said.

According to Akram, although the points will be awarded based on the information given in the application, the points will change during the evaluation.

As an example, Akram cited the points awarded in the children's category. That is, in short, if you have children under 18, you get more points.

Noting that the homeowners portal database will be linked to the DNR database, Akram said:

"The changes will come, when evaluated. The ACC said that the applications have been changed. That is not a change," Akram said.

"The ACC can't say anything else yet because they don't have access to it... Once again, we brought in the technicians and told them very nicely how it goes and what happens. They were very satisfied at the time. Wehn we tried to clarify further, they even denied, saying there was nothing wrong with them when they sat there and spoke."

Akram has earlier denied the allegations made by the ACC and said they are politically motivated.

The ACC ordered the suspension of flats under the landlord scheme after a number of applicants expressed concerns and complaints about the permanent list. A large proportion of the complaints were about length of residence in the city, but Akram has said in the past and on Wednesday that length of residence is merely one eligibility criteria.

Housing Minister Haider has said that a decision will be taken after the ACC investigation and as directed by the ACC.