Its chairman, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, said the committee intends to commence proceedings on the MLFF project in the next parliamentary session.
“The ministries to be called for these proceedings include the works ministry and the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA). Input will also be sought from highway operators regarding the implementation of MLFF,” she said in a statement.
Last month, works minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said his ministry and the MHA were reassessing the project’s implementation.
Nanta added that existing highway concessionaires retain the right to collect toll, responding to concerns over a private company securing the MLFF project.
FMT previously reported that 32 highway toll concessionaires had protested the government’s direct award of the MLFF project to a private company for all highways in the country.
Under the MLFF system, all exit and entry points on highways will be converted into barrier-free lanes to reduce congestion and ease traffic flow.
According to sources, the then Barisan Nasional-Perikatan Nasional caretaker government and a YTL Corporation Bhd-linked company signed an “appointment agreement” on Nov 17, 2022, two days before the 15th general election (GE15).
The source claimed that the multi-billion ringgit project was awarded without consulting the concessionaires who will eventually foot the bill.
On a separate matter, Mas Ermieyati said the PAC has completed proceedings on seven issues highlighted in the Auditor-General’s Report 2022.
She said three issues – Langkawi Development Authority’s (Lada) management of property development, UiTM Holdings Sdn Bhd and the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Programme – have fully completed proceedings.
However, proceedings for four other issues – Foreign Workers Integrated Management System (ePPAx), the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS), Forest Management and Environmental Impact, and the upgrading and reconstruction management of dilapidated school buildings – will continue pending further explanations from relevant ministries.
“PAC is committed to presenting all these reports during the first meeting of the upcoming parliamentary session, which commences on Feb 26.