VIDEO l 3:14 mins

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has cleared Ahmad Shabery Cheek of any discrepancy or  wrongdoing over the K-Pop funding controversy during the National Youth Day celebrations last year.

Testifying before the committee today, the former youth and sports minister said the ministry merely paid early for the K-Pop concert performers in order to book their performance slot, and the money was later refunded when sponsorship came in as the event neared.

Ahmad Shabery is currently the communications and multimedia minister.

NONE PAC chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed ( right ) said the issue was merely a "procedural" matter and it would make necessary recommendations in its final report to change some government procedures.

"PAC is satisfied with his explanation and will not be calling him again," he added.

Nur Jazlan also said that the ministry only spent RM2 million of its own money for the whole event, while the rest was grouped from other ministries and sponsors before the money was parked under the Youth and Sports Ministry’s account.

“The minister wanted to do things are little differently but procedures didn’t allow it, so there was a problem with the mode of payment. That is all,” Nur Jazlan said, terming the whole thing as a misunderstanding and difference of opinion between Ahmad Shabery and the Auditor-General’s Department.

Shabery makes full disclosure

PAC did not reveal the details of the testimony as it is bound by standing orders, but Ahmad Shabery made a full disclosure on his testimony in a separate press conference at the Parliament lobby.

Shabery said the money that came in late through sponsorship was then used by the ministry to pay for other event management costs, which were supposed to be paid for by the ministry itself.

He also said that the cost for the K-Pop concert in terms of direct fees to the performers was only RM900,000 while the rest of the RM1.6 million paid to the performers were fees for accommodation and income tax charges for the promoters.

However, fellow PAC member Tony Pua later said he was “curious” as to why Nur Jazlan cleared Ahmad Shabery of any wrongdoing after only one hearing.

“I find it curious why the PAC chairman was so quick to ‘clear’ Shabery Cheek when no formal decision has been arrived by the PAC as we are still awaiting several documents from the Youth and Sports Ministry over the National Youth Day celebrations,” he said in his Facebook account.

“I’m not suggesting that there was any major wrongdoing but certainly the chairman has acquitted the minister to the press before PAC deliberates and finalises its report for the Parliament,” he added.