KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 — Public Accounts Committee (PAC) deputy chairman Tan Seng Giaw slammed Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) for ignoring the authority’s call to submit the KL International Airport 2 (KLIA2) project reports for the Auditor-General (AG) to look into the matter.

“If MAHB has nothing to hide, there is no reason for them to disregard our recommendation for the AG to conduct an audit on the (KLIA2) project discrepancies,” he said yesterday.

“It is beyond me that the cost now has ballooned to a whopping RM4 billion (from an initial estimate of RM1.7 billion). A transparent audit needs to be done.”

Tan, who is also DAP national vice- chairman, said PAC was familiar with the list of discrepancies on the KLIA2 project which include the sinking surfaces at the airport’s apron and runway as well as delays on the construction of the airport caused by MAHB’s alleged mismanagement and its failure to consider the needs of budget airline operators.

He said this has led to cost overruns and problems in the low-cost terminal which is now reason for PAC to recommend the AG’s audit.

The PAC report on Nov 26 found that MAHB decided to locate the terminal at the west side of the airport, a site which had been documented by engineers as costly and ill-suited for airport construction as it was founded on soft peat land.

Tan said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai’s decision to set up an independent audit panel of five members was not only unnecessary but also was indicative there were discrepancies being swept under the rug.

“What are they hiding? If the AG needs to take a look into the matter, they (MAHB) should allow for it to be made transparent to all,” he said.

Upon announcing the establishment of the independent audit committee, Liow had given the panel until the second quarter of 2015 for their report and for its findings to be made public. 

“We (PAC) find this hard to accept. They (MAHB and Transport Ministry) can set up as many committees they like but why are they hesitant to let the AG step in?” he asked.