A Barisan Nasional parliamentarian has urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat.

Mohamad Aziz (Seri Gading) urged the watchdog to conduct an 'A to Z' probe on why the ministry purchased four 20-year-old diesel multiple units or diesel trains for the 179km double-tracking railway project between Rawang and Ipoh.

He said this during the winding up of the 2010 Budget debate by Deputy Transport Minister Robert Lau, who informed Parliament that the government had purchased the trains for RM30 million.

NONE Mohamad Aziz also ticked off Ong, the MCA president, for hardly turning up in Parliament.

"I want the minister (Ong) to answer... (he) hardly shows up. Is he busy with his (ministerial) responsibilities or personal matters?" he said.

"The deputy minister (Lau) said there was not enough funds. Okay, but why buy old trains that are feeble. You don't have the money (and yet) you buy worn-out trains at a more expensive price then other countries?" he added.

Ong used his 'ministerial powers'

Furthermore, Mohamad said the railway board did not authorise the purchase but Ong had used his "ministerial powers" to make the purchase.

"Is there something (suspicious here) Mr Speaker? I urge the MACC to probe the minister and if there is something fraudulent, drag him to court and prosecute him," he stressed.

"The MACC has said that every elected representative will be inspected... (they should) first investigate the (transport) minister

"It is weird (to buy trains with diesel engines) in an age where people are using electric trains to avoid polluting the environment and electric trains are faster.

"(Electric) trains are automatic... when it arrives at the station it stops by itself... if it is manually operated, the trains are not safe for the passengers," he added.

According to the recently released Auditor General's report, the government may have to support part of the RM1.14 billion losses in the double-tracking project because of poor management.

Did not adhere to KTMB's standards

Ismail Kasim (BN-Arau) was the first to raise the issue in the House, saying that the purchase of the locomotives were suspicious as it did not adhere to the standards and specifications of the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) board.

Ismail said that the diesel trains were not approved by the board and the managing director was terminated from his post when the agreement was signed.

"What is the rationale in buying at a price of RM30 million when Costa Rica and Argentina had purchased diesel trains that are 20-years-old at a price of RM10 million? (Why spend) at a time when the government is trying to save?" asked Ismail.

Similarly, Halimah Mohd Sadique (BN-Tenggara) asked Lau why his ministry was buying near obsolete trains when KTMB was already using electric trains.

"What is the life span? Is the maintenance cost low? Can the government guarantee that the cost of maintenance is in accordance with the trains' age?" she asked.

Halimah also asked if the existing railway tracks have to be modified to accommodate the diesel engines.

The deputy minister however explained that KTMB did not have the funds to replace the current engines with expansive ones in one go.