PETALING JAYA: Every sen entrusted to Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and Mara Corporation Sdn Bhd (Mara Corp) will be managed transparently to avoid any future scandal involving the purchase of overseas properties, says Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
The Mara chairman said he viewed the recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) seriously and told all of Mara and Mara Corps subsidiaries to pay attention to the matter.
“God-willing, as the chairman of Mara, and together with the other council members, we will monitor and supervise the implementation carried out by Mara’s management,” he said when contacted yesterday.
On Tuesday, PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the overseas properties purchased by Mara Inc in 2013 and 2014 were overvalued.
The purchases involved the Dudley International House, 51 Queen Street and 333 Exhibition Street in Melbourne, Australia, as well as Beaumont House in London.
“The purchases were not approved by the Finance Ministry. However, the Rural and Regional Development Ministry appealed the matter later, with it being brought before the Economic Council, which approved the purchases in 2013,” she said in a statement.
In the report, the PAC also proposed that the ministry, Mara and Mara Inc ensure all development projects, including property, renewable energy and marketing, are completed on time and within budget to generate high profits.
