Stop using VEP issue in by-election campaign, parties told

KUALA LUMPUR: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) wants a stop to political parties capitalising on the issue of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) system in the Tanjung Piai by-election campaign.

This is because the PAC is still investigating the VEP following the Auditor-General’s Report 2017 which had questioned about contracts that were awarded without open tender.

“All statements and documents presented in the Parliament’s PAC proceedings are classified as confidential and cannot be discussed outside the proceedings, ” said PAC chief Datuk Noraini Ahmad.

“I would like to stress that the PAC has not finished the proceedings on the matter, ” she said.

As such, she said those who made use of the issue would violate Dewan Rakyat’s Standing Order 85 as the matter is being investigated by the bi-partisan committee.

The VEP is a permit issued by the Road Transport Department which enables the entry of foreign vehicles.Tanjung Piai’s MCA candidate Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng had said that police reports made against him for alleged corruption in the VEP project were politically-motivated acts by his opponents in the by-election.

Noraini said in a statement yesterday that the PAC had held five proceedings on the matter, with the last one taking place on Oct 23.

The PAC had yet to prepare a final report on the matter which would provide the committee’s recommendations and findings for the government, she added.

“After the committee has finalised the report, only then will it be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat and be made public.

“As such, it is very irresponsible for anyone to link the proceedings or make reference to PAC as part of their campaign in the Tanjung Piai by-election, ” she said.