Explain theme park costs overrun, former MB Zambry told
IPOH: Former mentri besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir has been challenged to come out from “hiding” and explain the whopping increase in costs incurred for the Movie Animation Park Studios (MAPS) project.
State-owned Perak Corporation Bhd (PCB) audit committee chairman Chong Zhemin said Zambry had been totally silent since the disclosure of a special audit report on MAPS last Saturday (March 23).
He dared Zambry to declare that he was unaware of a RM250mil shareholder advance approval by PCB Development Bhd (PCBD), which owned 51% of the share of Animation Theme Park Sdn Bhd (ATP), the developer and owner of MAPS.
Chong asked if Zambry was not aware of the financial problems faced by the theme park's main contractor, and that PCBD was the only company funding the additional cost of the project.
“Instead, Perak Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Saarani Mohamad has come to his (Zambry's) rescue by saying that was not for the latter to answer questions related to MAPS, and (saying) that I was seeking cheap publicity.
“Zambry as the former chairman of the Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP) must be fully responsible and accountable for the cost overrun in MAPS,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
On March 23, the Keranji assemblyman revealed that MAPS received RM217 million in additional funding for its construction and development.
He said that the original cost stated for the construction and development of the theme park was RM390 million, but the actual cost stood at RM607 million.
On Sunday (March 24), Saarani responded by issuing a statement saying that the disclosure of the audit by Perak Pakatan Harapan was an “act of revenge”.
He said that Pakatan had long bore a grudge against Barisan and the disclosure of the report was to discredit the former administration.
Chong said since the report was disclosed, he had been forwarding a question to Zambry every day over the questionable decisions and lopsided agreements in relation to MAPS.