ALOR STAR: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Sim Tze Tzin said he erred in his statement that Kampung Tok Senik Resort in Langkawi is being auctioned by the Finance Ministry (MoF) after allegedly bleeding RM250 million in losses.
The PKR Bayan Baru member of Parliament issued an apology on his X account at about 7.17pm today upon realising factual errors in his earlier tweet.
"I found factual errors of my earlier tweet. I tarik balik (withdraw) and apologise," he said in the tweet via his X handle, @simtzetzin.
Yesterday, Sim uploaded a picture with other committee members after inspecting the resort.
The posting was accompanied by caption "Beautiful Malay Traditional Resort, but closed down to huge losses totalling RM250 million. Now in the process of auction by MoF. PAC will look into Governance issues as reported in the Auditor General's Report."
Earlier today, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said his administration was not involved in the MoF decision.
He was reported as saying that it was possible that the project was developed by a private company on land belonging to Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) before it went into the red.
Sanusi, who is also Lada co-chairman said he would seek details from MoF on the matter.
Meanwhile, PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the committee had attended a briefing by MoF treasury deputy secretary-general (Investment) Datuk Dr Shahrazat Ahmad and Lada chief executive officer Datuk Haslina Abdul Hamid this morning.
"MoF and Lada have provided a detailed statement and explanation on the five recommendations presented in the PAC report," she said.
She added that during the proceeding, Lada has arranged a work visit for the committee to inspect the follow-up action undertaken by the relevant agency based on recommendations contained in the PAC Report that was presented in parliament on Mar 19.
"Following the work visit and the explanation and statement from the witness in the follow-up action proceeding, PAC acknowledged the positive steps taken by Lada and MoF in order to preserve Langkawi's status as the main geo-tourism destination in the region and a preferred global tourism destination," she said.
On the land title issue concerning St. Regis Langkawi and Kampung Tok Senik Resort, Mas Ermieyati said the PAC had recorded the explanation and statement provided by the witness.
"PAC will provide its comment on each feedback by MoF and Lada on the five recommendations including St. Regis Hotel Langkawi and Kampung Tok Senik.
"The report will be presented in parliament on June 27," she said.
The Auditor General's Report 2022 previously revealed that Lada had failed to collect RM8.3 million from the resort lease since 2003.
It was reported that the PAC then submitted five recommendations in March to MOF and Lada to resolve the lease issue involving the resort as well as St Regis Langkawi Hotel.