KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 — Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek will testify before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) next Thursday over the RM1.6 million payment to K-pop groups performing at the National Youth Day celebration last year.

PAC chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, in a statement, said Ahmad Shabery (picture, who was the former youth and sports minister at the time) would be accompanied by Youth and Sports Ministry officials involved in the programme.

The Auditor-General’s Report 2012 stated that the Youth and Sports Ministry paid RM1.6 million to bring three K-pop groups to Malaysia for the celebration.

Nur Jazlan said the PAC would begin proceedings next Wednesday with the Transport Ministry over the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) and Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

The PAC will then hear an explanation from the Finance Ministry over revenue collected by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) and Customs Department Royal Malaysian Customs, he said, adding that on the other hand, the IRB and Customs Department would give their testimony on November 26.

He said the PAC felt that an efficient revenue collection was vital to ensure that the country was in good financial condition.

“The PAC also wants to know their preparations and roles in the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2015 to ensure that revenue is properly collected,” he said.

Nur Jazlan said the Education Ministry would enlighten the ministry on the security service in schools On November 27 while the Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Ministry would explain incinerator plant management on Dec 3.

“The PAC will call up other ministries, government departments and government-linked companies (GLCs) next year to clarify whether government funds were properly spent in the interest of the people,” he added. — Bernama