The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Penang failed to submit the report on the findings of the proposed tunnel to the state assembly in the last sitting. This is a very serious matter as the PAC committee is accountable to the people of Penang.

A survey carried out on Sept 23, through the Facebook page of Penang PKR, showed that 97 percent out of a total of 710 respondent agreed that the PAC should disclose and make public its findings regarding the tunnel.

The tunnel project can be considered a mega project that is estimated to cost RM6.3 billion. This amount is huge and will have great impact on our children and grandchildren. As a resident of Penang, I am worried about the debt that we are imposing on our future generations. Even the feasibility cost for the tunnel of RM305 million is questionable and suspicious.

There should be more public hearing on this matter before any decisions were made. Exchanging state land for a feasibility study is simply not a good bargain, especially so when the feasibility study does not guarantee a green light for the project. In the event the tunnel project falls through, then the land given in lieu of the RM305 million feasibility study would have been in vain.

Lest we forget, the PAC is responsible for overseeing government expenditures and to ensure that public spending is justified. The committee is a crucial mechanism for transparency and accountability in the financial dealings within the government.

PAC must not be used as a political tool or as a rubber stamp to endorse government expenditure. 1MDB was cleared by the PAC at the federal level, but the matter is now under international scrutiny and all credibility of that PAC committee has gone down the drain.

The Penang PAC should use this opportunity to set a good example to the federal government and the policymakers. Penang PAC can be a shining example of good governance with good democratic practices. Therefore, Penang PAC should take immediate steps to address this potential pitfall.

The British left us with a functioning democracy which we should make full use of. The system and laws governing our state and country are comprehensive and sufficiently allows us to have a balanced representation of the people’s voices. Based on this, the government of the day should not disappoint and fail the people who voted them into positions of power.

Hence, there should be no more excuses for an honest and reliable PAC report on the tunnel in the coming state assembly sitting in November. The trust of Penangites should not be taken for granted.

NG CHEK SIANG is Tanjong division PKR chief.