PAC To Summon Loke Over Aerotrain Delay and More

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will summon several key individuals, including Transport Minister Anthony Loke, to address concerns over an alleged RM500 million loss in the Employees Provident Fund’s (EPF) share dealings involving Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).

PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said hearings will begin in the second week of this month, covering issues such as MAHB’s delisting from Bursa Malaysia under the Gateway Development Alliance (GDA) consortium led by Khazanah Nasional, rising airline ticket prices, and delays in aerotrain services at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

She confirmed that Loke may be called to explain the aerotrain delays.

The controversy began when EPF sold its MAHB shares in January 2023 at RM6.74 per unit, only to repurchase them later at RM11 per unit as part of MAHB’s privatisation, reducing its stake to just 5%. This has led political parties, including MCA, and various NGOs to call for an investigation into the financial impact on EPF contributors.

In a recent Parliament session, PAC has planned 45 meetings, including five new proceedings which includes leasing of electric multiple unit (EMU) trains under the Transport Ministry, Railway Asset Corporation (RAC), and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB), public airport management under the Finance Ministry, MAHB, Khazanah Nasional and EPF.

PAC aims to produce 25 reports and hold over 150 meetings this year, surpassing last year’s 22 reports and 148 meetings.