Former Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Wong Kah Woh wants the new administration to press ahead with the investigation into the Defence Ministry's controversial land swap deal issue.
He said the committee under his watch had completed 50 per cent of the draft on the probe, but it could not be finalised due to the dissolution of Parliament on Oct 10 last year.
He said the issue involved more than 10 cases, one being the Paloh army camp in Sembrong, Johor.
Wong, who is Ipoh Timur member of parliament, said the proceedings began on April 2, 2019 and continued on Nov 16, 2020, and saw former auditor-general Tan Sri Ambrin Buang summoned as a witness.
Ambrin was then chairman of the Governance, Procurement and Finance Investigating Committee, which was established in May 2018 after Pakatan Harapan won Putrajaya.
"In total, five proceedings were on the Paloh army camp land swap deal.
"The witnesses included the Defence Ministry secretary-general (Datuk Seri Muez Abdul Aziz), then defence minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, as well as (Johor Menteri Besar) Datuk Onn Hafiz (Ghazi), who was Hishammuddin's political secretary from 2013 to 2018.
"The last proceedings was with Onn on July 4 last year, which included a site visit to the Paloh army camp," Wong told the New Straits Times.
He said the new PAC should continue to investigate the controversial land swap deals to uncover the truth as it was vital to the nation.
However, he said, the PAC had the discretion to decide whether to continue with the proceedings or investigate other issues.
"There are always merits and seriousness in the subject matter when PAC decides to open an investigation.
"I suggest that the new PAC continue the unfinished business as these are subjects that are considered important.
"As all proceedings were recorded in Parliament's Hansard, it should not be a problem for the new PAC to continue what is unfinished. The new PAC can recall witnesses if they wish to clarify what is seen to be not clear in the Hansard."
It was reported that the Defence Ministry allegedly lost RM258 million by selling the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Kinrara, Puchong, at a 34 per cent discount in a land swap deal.
The land was allegedly swapped for RM500 million although it was valued at RM758 million by the Valuation and Property Services Department.
In return, a private party agreed to build a new military base in Paloh, Sembrong, Johor, and a new Air Force headquarters and new logistics training centre at the military base in Sendayan, Negri Sembilan.
The ministry then allegedly overvalued the land in Paloh that was acquired via a land swap. The 25ha plot was acquired at RM10.47 million although the Valuation and Property Services Department valued it at only RM7.28 million.
