KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Mas Ermiyati Samsudin has refuted allegations of partisanship against the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by Anthony Loke.
The PAC chairman expressed shock at being accused of being partisan in its hearing related to Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB).
This comes after Loke, who is Transport Minister, said that the PAC's probe into the allegations of a RM500mil loss in the Employees Provident Fund's (EPF) share transaction involving MAHB was "politically motivated".
"I am extremely shocked and aggrieved at the statement by the Transport Minister when he said that he will be called because he is a minister from DAP.
"My view is that his statement is highly inaccurate in light that the PAC had called on many ministers and former ministers in proceedings which have nothing whatsoever to do with their party," she said in a statement issued on Wednesday (Feb 5).
She added that all ministers called to testify before the PAC had done so based on their duties and responsibilities as ministers.
"Have former PAC chairmen, which also included from DAP, held proceedings and called witnesses among Cabinet ministers because of their party, be it Umno, Bersatu or MCA?" she questioned.
Mas Ermiyati clarified that the PAC proceedings on MAHB related to several matters.
Among them, she said, were the management of civil aviation of which the Transport Ministry was a main stakeholder.
"The scope of the PAC proceedings is not limited to the takeover bid by the Gateway Development Alliance Sdn Bhd (GDA) consortium but also covers the issue of the hike in airfares to Sarawak and Sabah.
"This includes the delays in fixing the KLIA aerotrain," she added.
On Saturday, Mas Ermiyati had said that MAHB would be among the issues to come under PAC scrutiny in this Parliament meeting which ends on March 6.
She did not rule out the possibility of Loke being among individuals to be called to testify before the bi-partisan committee.
On Wednesday, Loke said he was baffled by Mas Ermieyati's statement because his ministry has nothing to do with the sale of MAHB shares.
He questioned if the move was politically motivated.
Meanwhile, Mas Ermiyati said it was up to Loke to attend proceedings if called.
"If he refuses, it's up to him and history will record that a Cabinet minister refused to come before the PAC to give views and explanation when it is for the good of the rakyat and nation," she added.
She reminded Loke that the PAC comprised 14 members who carried out their duties professionally based on consensus.
