Explain how Zetrix arrears reached RM314mil, Loke told

Razeef, now a Bersama member, urged Loke Siew Fook to explain where the ministry’s oversight system failed, saying the transport minister was responsible for the systems and agencies under his ministry.

“If the monitoring was so stringent, how could RM314 million remain outstanding until September? The public has a right to know where exactly the ministry’s oversight system failed,” he said in a statement.

Razeef also called on Loke to be prepared to resign if he truly upheld the principle of ministerial accountability.

He contrasted the issue with Loke’s decision to resign as a minister over DAP’s stand on former prime minister Najib Razak’s conditional pardon.

“If he was willing to put his position on the line over a political issue, what about a case involving RM314 million in government revenue and weaknesses in oversight under the ministry he leads?” he said.

“Loke cannot simply ask MyEG to pay up. He must explain why his ministry’s system allowed this to happen. If accountability is truly a principle he upholds, he must demonstrate that the same principle applies to him.”

The road transport department (JPJ) suspended MyEG and Zetrix, previously MyEG Services Bhd, as its collection agents for fees and summonses after it was revealed they owed the department hundreds of millions in arrears since May.

Loke said Zetrix owed JPJ RM314 million, and that it was issued 35 notices to make the payment.

He also said Zetrix had submitted a cheque for RM231 million in August, but the bank later told JPJ it could not be processed on the company’s orders.

He said the ministry and JPJ would set a deadline for the arrears to be settled and take appropriate steps to recover the funds.