THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will investigate all government land swaps under the Defence Ministry from 1995 to 2018, said Wong Kah Woh.

“The Parliament select committee will also probe the implementation of the Automated Enforcement System (AES) from 2012-2018 and the 1BestariNet project from 2011-2019,” the PAC chairman said in a statement today.

The AES comes under the Transport Ministry while 1BestariNet was under the Education Ministry.

Wong, who is also Ipoh Timur MP, said the three investigations were proposed by Special Investigation Committee on Governance, Procurement and Finance (JKSTUPKK) chairman Ambrin Buang, who briefed the PAC last Monday.

Pakatan Harapan had established the JKSTUPKK in May 2018 to allow the government to probe into suspicious government dealings.

Wong said the JKSTUPKK has already investigated 16 land swaps involving 1,182ha of government land worth RM4.8 billion. 

“The PAC was told that the government had lost money due to inconsistent land valuations and political interference,” said Wong.

According to JKSTUPKK’s probe, the government is estimated to have lost RM500 million through the 16 land swaps.

On the AES project, Wong said the JKSTUPKK has found that Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) had taken over the AES concession company for RM555 million when the original investment by the company was only RM40 million.

On the 1BestariNet project, Wong said the PAC will look into why the RM2.71 billion project to equip 10,000 schools with 4G internet to facilitate a virtual learning environment failed.

Wong said that the PAC will commence the land swap probe by interviewing the defence ministry’s chief secretary on November 30. 

“The PAC will decide whether to interview others after that,” said Wong.

The PAC comprises Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam-Bersatu), Yamani Hafez Musa (Sipitang-Bersatu), Jalaluddin Alias (Jelebu-BN), Lukanisman Awang Sauni (Sibuti-GPS), Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (Pasir Mas-PAS), Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (Sik-PAS), Nurul Izzah Anwar (Permatang Pauh-PH), Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (Lumut-PH), Wong Shu Qi (Kluang-PH) and Ahmad Hassan (Papar-Warisan) and Ramli Mohd Nor (Cameron Highlands-BN). – November 18, 2020.