KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid announced today that the much-awaited Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) report and findings will be tabled in parliament on Wednesday.
The PAC was conducting an investigation into how PKFZ’s initial cost of nearly RM2 billion could rise to RM12.5 billion because of various discrepancies.
The scandal first surfaced in 2007 and disclosures so far show that the fiasco straddles the tenures as transport minister of Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy and Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik.
In the PriceWaterhouseCooper Advisory Services (PwCAS) report, the auditors noted there was weak governance, weak project management, conflict of interest among board members and shareholders of related companies.
Azmi also confirmed that the PAC has been briefed by Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang on the National Audit Report 2008.
“PAC will call a few ministries that were involved in the double-tracking project. We want some explanations,” he said.
The Malaysian Insider yesterday reported the PAC will soon investigate the RM6 billion double tracking project after the recent revelation that the project has been managed poorly, resulting in losses amounting to more than RM1 billion.
According to the audit, the government may have to bear part of the RM1.14 billion loss in the 179km double-tracking rail project between Rawang and Ipoh as it was poorly managed.
He added that the Ministry of Transport will be among the first to be called and said the PAC would also be looking at other projects according to priority.
Azmi is also concerned that not much has improved since last year’s auditor’s report.
“This is what concerns us. We will try to find out why these things are repeated. If you look at the audit report last year and this year, there are not many changes. There are a lot of things the government is trying to clear the mess, but the same problem arises. So, there are basic problems that need to be addressed. I don’t know what, we can only give our opinion after we look through,” he said.
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