PUTRAJAYA: The plan by Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin to summon several individuals from the Transport Ministry could be politically motivated, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister was referring to allegations of a RM500mil loss in the Employees Provident Fund's (EPF) share transaction involving Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB).
Loke said he was baffled by Mas Ermieyati's statement because his ministry has nothing to do with the sale of MAHB shares.
"The PAC chairman must act fairly. Her statement seems to suggest that this issue is being thrown at the Transport Ministry.
"I hope the PAC chairman is not trying to link this issue with the ministry," he told a press conference at the ministry's headquarters here on Wednesday (Feb 5).
ALSO READ: PAC calls for new proceedings
On Saturday (Feb 1), Mas Ermieyati said Loke and other individuals will be called in to testify in phased proceedings set to begin in the second week of this month.
Loke clarified that the MAHB is a public-listed company and not under the ministry.
"MAHB is a government-linked company, where the government, through the Finance Ministry, holds a golden share in MAHB," he said.
He added that ownership of equity in MAHB is managed by fund managers under the relevant institutions.
"In this case it (appears that) there is a political agenda being pushed by the PAC chairman.
"Coincidentally, the Transport Minister is from DAP. Is this an attempt to blame the party?
"If an explanation is needed, ask EPF.
"The buying and selling of shares are handled by fund managers and not determined by the secretary-general of this ministry," he said.
ALSO READ: Opposition MPs say no to sale of MAHB
Asked if he had already been summoned by the PAC, Loke said that he had yet to be called in.
"If they want any explanation from us, they must communicate officially with the ministry.
"We will then review the scope and other relevant aspects.
"If the matter is not under the ministry, we will write to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker to inform the House that it has nothing to do with us," he added.
Several groups had asked the EPF to clarify its sale of MAHB shares in January 2023 at around RM6.74 per unit before repurchasing them at RM11 per unit as part of MAHB's privatisation exercise.
