The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) plans to conduct a probe into 1BestariNet, marking a second time the billion-ringgit project has been scrutinised in recent years.
Implemented by YTL Communications Sdn Bhd in partnership with the Education Ministry, 1BestariNet is supposed to equip 10,000 schools with high-speed 4G Internet and virtual learning facilities.
In a press conference this morning, PAC chairperson Wong Kah Woh said the bipartisan committee had been informed that the project’s objectives remain unachieved.
“The Government Governance, Procurement and Finance Investigation Committee (JKSTUPKK) reported in its analysis on weaknesses and negligence in terms of governance prevented the project’s objective from being achieved,” he said.
The committee will specifically be looking into what transpired between 2011 and 2019, where a total of RM2.71 billion was spent.
The entire 15-year project is worth RM4.47 billion and is currently in its third phase, with a full implemented date set for 2026.
Back in 2016, the PAC had probed the project and one of its findings was that YTL Communications had been paying far lower rent for its telecommunication tower sites following an “intervention” by the minister on behalf of the conglomerate.
1BestariNet was launched back in 2011 when Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was the education minister.
Probes into land swaps, AES
The PAC will also be looking into two other projects - land swap deals under the Defence Ministry and the implementation of the Automated Enforcement System (AES) under the Transport Ministry.
Wong said it will be scrutinising land swaps involving federal and private land that occurred between 1995 and 2018.
“The JKSTUPKK investigated 16 land swap deals spanning 2,923 acres (1182.896 hectares) of government land worth RM4.8 billion.
“The PAC was informed that among the issues with the implementation of this method were losses incurred by the government as a result of inconsistent valuation methods for the swapped land, and how political considerations trumped defence considerations,” he said.
As for the AES project, the standing committee will be looking into why the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) spent RM555 million to acquire the AES concessionaire when the latter’s original investment in the project was just RM40 million.
The PAC will begin by conducting hearings on the land swap deals on Nov 30 before moving on to the other two issues.
The first witness to be called in to testify is Transport Ministry secretary-general Isham Ishak. - Mkini
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