PAC starts probe to get a handle on flying car project

By THE STAR | 27 June 2019


PETALING JAYA: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has started a probe into the “flying car” project announced by the Entrepreneur Develop­ment Ministry.

Since that announcement, there was confusion among the public on whether public funds were to be used or had been used for the project despite Entre­preneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Redzuan Md Yusof saying in Parlia­ment that it was a private project, said PAC deputy chairman Wong Kah Woh.

“We have decided to start a proceeding on it,” he said when contacted.

The flying car project is not the third national car project that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad sought to start.

On Feb 26, Redzuan said Malay­sia’s first flying car was expected to be unveiled this year. He then said on March 2 that the flying car was being built to cater to transport companies or those offering transport-related services, and was not for sale to the general public.

Known as the Vector, which was touted to be the much-talked about flying car, the model has the appearance of a drone.

In Parliament on March 29, Redzuan said the government’s endorsement of the privately funded “flying car” project was aimed at developing human capital.

“These Malaysian youths (behind the project) are already far ahead and they are in the same rank as those who invented and did research (on the concept) at an international level,” he said.

Malaysians have made fun of the “flying car” project on social media, with some asking if the model was made from KDK fans, while others expressed scepticism.

Wong noted that the Entrepreneur Deve­lopment Ministry informed the Parlia­ment earlier that no public money was involved in the project.

“So far we have conducted two proceedings on the matter; on June 14, where representatives from the Entrepreneur Development Ministry attended our proceedings; while on June 19, the deputy secretary-general of the International Trade and Industry Ministry attended the PAC’s proceedings,” he said.

He said representatives from the Interna­tional Trade and Industry Ministry were summoned because the PAC wanted to know if they were informed of the project.

“We will have more discussions on the matter by calling other relevant agencies,” said Wong.

Attempts to get a response from the ministers of Entrepreneur Development and the International Trade and Industry were unsuccessful at press time.

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