PUTRAJAYA, Oct 5 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook today said any political links involving MYEG and Zetrix AI Berhad were irrelevant to the government’s decision to suspend their services, stressing that his ministry’s concern was the RM314 million in outstanding government revenue.

Responding to a question on whether the companies were linked to Umno, Loke said it was not his role to associate them with any political party and that all companies and agents were treated equally.

“You have to ask them. I mean, I don’t want to associate them with any political party. My role here is to treat every company, every agent the same.

“Whether they are linked to anyone is irrelevant to me. One thing is certain: they have no connection whatsoever to my party. But which party they are linked to is not our consideration.

“Our consideration is the facts: whether there are outstanding arrears that should have been paid to the government, whether their obligations have been fulfilled and whether action needs to be taken,” he told a press conference at the Transport Ministry here.

The Straits Times reported on Friday that Zetrix had “strong ties to prominent political figures”, citing its executive chairman Datuk Norraesah Mohamad, a former Umno supreme council member and senator.

Loke said the government’s action was based solely on the companies’ obligations to remit government revenue collected on behalf of the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

He also hit out at criticism on social media calling for his resignation following the suspension of MYEG and Zetrix services.

“When action is taken, the ‘ceplos-ceplos’ immediately say I should resign. The company that didn’t pay is not being asked to take responsibility, but the minister is the one being asked to face action. What kind of logic is that?” he said, referring to political cybertroopers.

Loke had earlier demanded that MYEG and Zetrix AI Berhad immediately settle RM314 million in outstanding government revenue, saying the money collected does not belong to the companies.

He said the RM314 million in arrears had accumulated since May this year, rejecting reports that the amount had been outstanding for three years.

He said the companies had, on August 21, submitted a cheque dated September 30 for RM231 million to settle the arrears at that time.

However, the bank did not process the cheque when it was presented on September 30, following instructions from the company, he said.

As a result, MOT and JPJ suspended payment services through MYEG and Zetrix AI from today.

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