Kuala Lumpur: Transport Minister Anthony Loke today emphasised that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is required to adhere to proper channels when seeking any explanations from his Ministry, including on Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd’s (MAHB) share sales. Stating that neither he nor the Ministry is involved in the corporate transaction, Loke said any decision by PAC should be made by its committee and not solely by its chairman, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the PAC chairman reportedly said that the committee has not ruled out summoning several important individuals including the Transport Minister relating to allegations of RM500 million loss in MAHB’s share transactions by the Employees Provident Fund. Mas Ermieyati stated that Loke and all related individuals would be called to provide clarifications in stages, with proceedings set to begin in the second week of this month.

Asked whether he has been summoned by PAC, Loke said: “No”, adding that any requests by PAC need to be made officially to the ministry. Loke insisted, “If they want any explanation from us, they must communicate officially with the Transport Ministry. We will review the scope and other aspects. If the scope is not under the ministry, we will write to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker to state that the matter has nothing to do with the ministry.”

Loke further clarified that MAHB is a listed company and not under the Transport Ministry. He explained that the issue of equity ownership in MAHB by institutions, including Khazanah Nasional Bhd and EPF, is managed by the fund managers of those institutions, and in this case, it refers specifically to the EPF. “Hence, if (they) want an explanation, ask EPF, not my ministry,” he added.

Addressing concerns over the delay of the Aerotrain service at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Loke pointed out that the project management falls under MAHB, not the Transport Ministry. He expressed dissatisfaction with the delay, noting that the project funding and contracts are the responsibility of MAHB’s board of directors. MAHB has announced that the Aerotrain service, initially scheduled to resume in January 2025, has been postponed to the second quarter of 2025, marking a two-year service suspension.