PKFZ gets murkier, cabinet to decide on report’s release
(Suara Keadilan) – As expected, Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat has U-turned on a promise to make public the findings of an audit report into the Port Klang Free Zone, a white-elephant development project that has suffered staggering costs overruns from an initial RM1.9 billion to as much as RM12.5 billion.
“The Port Klang Authority has no power to release the report because it is being discussed at the cabinet level,” PKA chairman Lee Hwa Beng told reporters. PKA is overseer for the project.
Hwa Beng also confirmed that PKFZ CEO Lim Thean Shiang had quit, but declined to say if it was because of the audit report compiled by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Despite the news leaks, PKFZ gets murkier
In his latest blog posting, Tee Keat confirmed that the cabinet had discussed PKFZ at its Wednesday weekly meeting and that copies of the PwC report commissioned by the government in 2008 were handed out.
On April 29, the minister publicly ordered Hwa Beng to release the findings within seven days. But the deadline was missed and the blame put on a letter of indemnity requested by PwC.
The audit firm had wanted to be protected against third-party lawsuits arising from the disclosure of its investigations.
According to Hwa Beng, the PKA has finally received clearance from its lawyers to issue the idemnity. “We can now issue a letter of indemnity to PwC anytime,” he said on Thursday.
But even so, PKA will still not make public the PwC report, this time pinning the responsibility on the cabinet.
The long drawn-out probe together with leaked portions of the report implicating many high-profile politicians – including members of the BN backbenchers club – has sparked public indignation and allegations of a government conspiracy to cover-up the massive losses.
Thursday’s edition of the Star newspaper, owned by Tee Keat’s MCA party, reported that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will begin investigations into the project.
“Malaysians today are entitled to ask the MCA president and Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat and the MACC – what games are you playing with regard to the RM12 billion Port Klang Free Zone can of worms?,” chided DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.
