The RM10 million fine imposed on Malaysia Airlines (MAS) for infringing the Competition Act should serve as a reminder to all government-linked companies (GLCs) particularly Khazanah Nasional Bhd to not listen too much to the advice of the consultants they appoint.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Nur Jazlan Mohamed said GLCs should not listen too much to the advice given by their consultants as they were more driven by profitability, so much so they disregard the country's law.

"Good governance should be practised by GLCs especially Khazanah as it involves the rakyat's money and I want to express my regret for what happened to MAS which was fined due to infringement of the Competition Act," he said.

NONE "This matter should not have happened and Khazanah's management cannot wash their hands in this issue by saying they did not know about the Competition Act," he said in a press conference after his first official working visit to the National Audit Department in Putrajaya today.

Regarding this matter, he said: "Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak who is also Khazanah chairperson cannot be blamed as I believe he was not given the right advice in this issue."

Nur Jazlan said PAC would give focus and examine all investments made by Khazanah, whether they make profits or losses for the government and wanted the company to report on all investments made, be it profit or loss.

He said PAC would also give focus on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), which was the target of the opposition, by examining all its investment portfolios in order to remove the negative perception on this project.

"This is because there's too many facts and data on 1MDB, and these are being distorted by the opposition so much so they created various negative perception on the government," he said.

According to him, the committee also ensured that the loans managed by 1MDB through government guarantee would be utilised properly as it involved government expenditure.

Apart from that, he also urged the Education Ministry to provide an explanation on the BestariNet project that was awarded to a private company.

"There are grumblings and complaints on the rationale of the BestariNet project as it was given to a private company which does have a complete communications infrastructure," said Nur Jazlan.

According to him, the project should have been given to Telekom Malaysia Bhd which already has a complete infrastructure to develop BestariNet via the national broadband initiative and has implemented the development of high-speed broadband.

- Bernama