News

Thursday July 12, 2012

Cassa: Decision to audit misses the point

By SIRA HABIBU
sira@thestar.com.my


PETALING JAYA: A decision by the state government to appoint audit firms to review Talam Corporation's debt restructuring exercise misses the point of public interest in this case, said a consumer-based non-governmental organisation in Selangor.

“This is not a technical dispute. This is a matter that concerns the rakyat, and therefore it must be judged by public interest groups,” said Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam (Cassa) president Jacob George.

He was responding to Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's announcement earlier that five local audit firms of international standing would be appointed to review the debt restructuring exercise.

Jacob said the state should instead set up an independent committee to investigate alleged questionable deals amounting to over RM1bil.

“The people want to know if there were irregularities, and the Pakatan Rakyat should let the people be the judge since it claims to champion transparency, accountability and zero tolerance for corruption,” he said.

Jacob suggested that the independent committee members comprise former judges and represetatives of apolitical public interest groups.

He also criticised Khalid for threatening to sue MCA for questioning the RM1bil questionable deals, including the purchase of land largely submerged in water.

MCA Young Professionals Bureau chief Datuk Chua Tee Yong had recently asked how an exercise to recover RM392mil in debts from Talam led to deals worth more than RM1bil.

“Khalid should answer the questions instead of threatening legal action, as the questions were raised with no malice but in the interest of the rakyat,” said Jacob.

Related Stories:
Audit firms to review RM1bil Selangor-Talam deal
State govt will not lose out in auction, says Trinity

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story
  • Bookmark and Share