KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 ― Putrajaya's recent decision to award a juicy advertising contract to promote domestic tourism to a little-known local company drew fire today from federal opposition lawmaker Ong Kian Ming.

The Serdang MP demanded Tourism Malaysia's chief Tan Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz explain picking Sumur Mutiara Sdn Bhd as well as reveal the company's part of a total RM454 million promotional job for next year.

He claimed the company had little experience in the tourism industry and was only known for two small incinerator projects in Pahang's Cameron Highlands and Pulau Tioman, which it had failed to build according to specifications or even deliver on time, according to the 2012 Auditor General's Report.

"Are the skills and expertise for building incinerators similar to those needed for tourism promotion?" Ong asked in a statement.

He further poured doubt on the company's credibility, pointing out that a check on Sumur Mutiara's profile showed the company was only a general contractor and added that its website is still under construction, which he said strongly indicated it was an unknown in advertising.