PAC wants clarification on RM1.8 billion PKFZ project again

(Bernama) – The Public Accounts Committe(PAC) will seek clarification again from the parties responsible for the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project whose cost is said to be exorbitant.

Chairman Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said the PAC would call within two weeks those responsible for the RM1.8 billion-odd project.

In 2007, the PAC then headed by Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad had summoned the parties involved for an explanation but "there are still matters to be explained further."

"The auditing has been completed. The PAC will study the audit report to identify any wrongdoings. After that the people responsible will be called to explain," he told reporters after meeting departments and agencies on frequent flash floods in Padang Besar.

The Transport Ministry, in its written report to the Dewan Rakyat in May last year, had said there were no irregularities in the project.

Azmi also urged the government to take over PLUS Expressways Bhd, the North-South Expressway concessionaire, to ease the people's burden to pay toll.

The takeover would also spare the government from being subjected to compensation demands by highway concession companies if the toll hike provision in the concession agreement was not complied with, he said.

The government had to pay close to half-a-billion ringgit in compensation to concessionaires of five highways for deferment in toll hikes between 0.68 sen and 50 sen till end of this year, he said.

"Until when the government wants to bear compensation payment to concession companies for postponing toll rate increases. Hence, the best solution is to take over the companies and the government itself set the toll charges within the people's affordability," he added.