Source: Bernama
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will find out the shortcomings of a tuna port venture in Batu Maung near here from its concessionaires.
Its chairman, Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said investigations into the failure of the project were in final stages and discussions would be held with the concessionaires, Malaysian International Tuna Port Sdn Bhd (MITP) and Bindforce Sdn Bhd to resolve the problems.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the RM243 million project here, he said the visit was aimed at getting the true picture of the situation as the port did not measure up to the expectation.
MITP, 40 per cent owned by the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) and 60 percent by Bindforce Sdn Bhd, was incorporated in 2004 to undertake the privatization of the tuna port, which is scheduled for completion in 2012.
He said the PAC’s inquiry would also look into whether there were irregularities in the development of the project, which was now in its third phase.
“We want Malaysia to be the hub of the tuna industry and failure to make it happen will result in huge losses to the country,†he said.
Azmi said fresh and frozen tuna landings at the port, which started operation five years ago, were merely about 1,200 tons per year, far below its target of 50,000 tons while only 32 boat licenses were issued so far against its target of 130.