KUALA LUMPUR – The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today decided to conduct three new proceedings, namely on the Defence Ministry’s land-swap deals, the Automated Enforcement System (AES) and the 1BestariNet project.
PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh, in a statement, said the committee arrived at the decision after being briefed by Governance, Procurement and Finance Investigation Committee (JKSTUPKK) chairman Tan Sri Ambrin Buang on Monday.
“The land-swap deals were a method to develop Mindef facilities, and were paid via the exchange of federal land with the private sector. It was meant to help cover the costs of the development, upgrading and construction of new military facilities.
“JKSTUPKK has investigated 16 land-swap deals involving 2,923ha of government land with a total value of RM4.8 billion.
“PAC was informed that some of the issues were on the government’s losses because there was no consistent way to value the land, as well as political consideration overtaking defence priority.
“PAC will initiate proceedings on the land swaps under Mindef by calling its first witness, who is the ministry’s secretary-general. He is also the officer overseeing the ministry.
“He will be called up to give a statement and explanation on this issue on November 30.”
After the first proceeding, PAC will decide whether there is a need to call in other witnesses.
On AES, Wong said JKSTUPKK conducted investigations after the Armed Forces Fund Board paid RM555 million to acquire the system’s concession company when the original investment was only RM40 million.
On the Education Ministry’s 1BestariNet project, implemented from 2011 to last year at a cost of RM2.71 billion, JKSTUPKK has said its failure stemmed from weaknesses and negligence.
The project was to develop high-speed 4G internet access for 10,000 schools and provide a virtual learning environment. – The Vibes, November 18, 2020
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