Probe sale of airport land in Seri Iskandar, Perak PAC told

 

The new airport in Seri Iskandar was proposed to replace the one in Ipoh.

PETALING JAYA: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Wong Kah Woh has urged the Perak PAC to investigate the sale of a piece of land proposed for the development of an international airport in Seri Iskandar, Tronoh.

In a statement, he said the state PAC must reveal those responsible for the sale of the land, about 40km from Ipoh.

“The Perak PAC has a responsibility to the state assembly to ensure that every state government decision related to financial issues is monitored and accountable.

“The Perak PAC will be considered negligent in carrying out its responsibilities if it chooses to remain silent on this issue,” he said, adding that the development of the international airport was vital to the state.

Wong Kah Woh.

He said the state PAC had the power to conduct an investigation into the land sale based on provisions of Standing Order 70 (1) (d) of the Perak state assembly.

The Ipoh Timor MP added it was not uncommon for PAC to use its authority to conduct investigations on issues that are pertinent to the people, citing the procurement of the Covid-19 vaccine and the ownership of the MySejahtera application as examples.

He proposed that the state PAC call Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad and former menteri besar Zambry Abd Kadir and Ahmad Faizal Azumu to begin its investigation.

“The Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak (PKNP) board members who were in service when the land was sold should be called for the next proceedings,” he added.

Recently, Aulong state assemblyman Nga Kor Ming had claimed during the Perak state assembly sitting that the proposed land for the construction of the international airport in Seri Iskandar had been sold without the permission of the state government between 2018 and 2019.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Najib Razak had confirmed the land, earmarked by the Barisan Nasional, was sold off when Pakatan Harapan held power in the state.

The new airport was proposed to replace the Ipoh airport, which cannot be expanded due to land problems. - FMT