PETALING JAYA: Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi was called as a witness by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in its hearing on land swaps made under the defence ministry.
PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh said Onn Hafiz, who was the political secretary to then defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein from 2013 to 2018, was the committee’s fourth witness.
He said Onn Hafiz was linked to the construction of an army camp in Paloh, Kluang, in Johor in 2016 which involved land swaps. This was revealed by a special investigation headed by then auditor-general Ambrin Buang.
“The PAC’s investigation is focused on his role in the proposed construction of the camp,” said Wong in a statement.
The PAC proceedings were held at the Kluang district office in Johor from 4pm and went on for two hours.
A land swap is a method practised by the defence ministry to develop facilities through the exchange of government land with the private sector.
Wong said the land swap deals in question involved a 38ha army camp in Kinrara, Selangor, the construction of an air force facility in Sendayan, Negeri Sembilan, and the construction of an army camp in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.
In 2016, the proposal to construct the Port Dickson army camp was replaced with the proposal to set up the Paloh camp.
Previously, the PAC summoned Ambrin, defence ministry secretary-general Muez Abd Aziz and Hishammuddin.
