MPL has appealed the temporary order by Civil Court, which ordered not to procure fuel from any company other than Meridiam Services, which is owned by MP for Villifushi Riyaz Rasheed.
Legal officer of MPL Haamid said that the court has accepted the legal documents submitted by them to the court. MPL appealed this decision to save the company from losing 3.6 million Rufiyaa annually.
Speaking to the press the CEO of MPL, Muhammad Junaid said that the fuel supply contract was awarded to Meridiam Services earlier this year even without an open bidding process which is against the financial regulations of the government. He said that the agreement does not also say that Meridiam should be the exclusive supplier of fuel to MPL.
“According to the agreement, Meridiam should supply fuel when MPL sends a purchasing order. The agreement does not oblige MPL to purchase fuel from Meridiam” said Junaid.
Junaid said that when they announced an open bid to supply diesel to MPL, some parties offered to provide at a liter at the rate of 6.90 Rufiyaa. He said that Meridiam supplies at the rate of 12 Rufiyaa per liter.
“The agreement says that they should change the fuel price based on market prices. But the fuel supplied by Meridiam does not get cheaper even though market price of fuel is really low now. When we sent a letter asking to reduce the prices, it went unanswered and they are billing us at 12 Rufiyaa per liter” said Junaid.
Junaid said that President appointed him to MPL to run the company efficiently and productively. He further said that he does not believe that, Riyaz the owner of Meridiam Services being the deputy PG leader of PPM should result in massive financial loss for MPL.
In addition, Junaid said that he does not believe that he will face any political pressure for working for the rights of the company. “ I am not doing political work. These actions are not political. What I am doing is saving the company from a huge financial loss. This is something I should do” said Junaid.
Junaid also answered some questions related to his private businesses. He said that his shop, Inthego got a land plot by successfully winning a bid by the Finance Ministry and that he pays rent regularly.
He asked the reporters to check it from Finance ministry if they have any doubts on that.
Temporary order issued by Civil Court on MPL ordering to procure fuel exclusively from Meridiam has been appealed
