KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has launched an investigation into the source of funding for Malaysia’s “flying car” project proposed earlier this year by Malaysian Entrepreneur Development Minister Redzuan Yusof.

Despite claims by Mr Redzuan that the project won’t be a government-funded initiative, PAC deputy chairman Wong Kah Woh said the committee is now investigating if public money was used.

“We want to find out if the flying car project used any government or public funds,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The committee has also summoned deputy secretary-general of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry Norazman Ayob to attend a PAC hearing on the project and will be contacting several other related persons soon.

After being flayed for unveiling the flying car project, Mr Redzuan assured critics that the RM8 million (S$2.63 million) cost of developing a prototype of the vehicle was borne by corporations and private individuals.

Apart from the funding probe, Mr Wong said the PAC is also wrapping up its investigation into alleged irregularities in the vehicle entry permit (VEP) system.

The Malaysian Insight had previously reported that in the Auditor-General’s Report 2017 series 2, the VEP system between Singapore and Malaysia worth RM149.45 million was awarded via direct negotiations.

The contract was awarded to TCSens, which had no prior experience in the field and had only RM35.54 in its accounts, instead of the required RM2.3 million.

Former transport minister Liow Tiong Lai was summoned to give his statement on the matter.

“We have limited manpower here and the PAC hopes to wrap up all existing cases as soon as possible,” Mr Wong said.

The PAC is currently chaired by Barisan Nasional’s Parit Sulong MP Noraini Ahmad after the previous chairman, Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee, quit Umno and joined ruling party Bersatu.

Before stepping down as chairman, Ronald’s PAC held at least 38 hearings within his final six months.

Mr Wong said the level of cooperation between members remained high after Ms Noraini took over last December. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT