PKFZ project should continue, says Muhyiddin

(The Star) – The Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project should continue as it is part of the expansion of the port, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday.

However, the matter about the cost and other issues which had been raised in the PricewaterhouseCoopers audit report would need to be addressed, he said when asked to comment on a statement by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat on Friday that the PKFZ development would continue through a soft loan as it involved public money.

Ong had given his assurance that decisions on the project would be made in the people’s interest.

Muhyiddin said that as Port Klang had become one of the most important and busiest ports in the country, expansion was important.

“I think it is fair (to let it continue) as the project is already on and is part of the expansion of the existing port.

“There is a lot of interest in Malaysia with regards to trade that goes to this port. This is one of the reasons why plans to expand the port were made previously.

“The cost is a separate issue. There must be some way to manage the situation,” he told reporters after attending Victoria Institution’s carnival day yesterday.

Ong had directed the Port Klang Authority to submit the audit report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Public Accounts Committee. It was reported yesterday that the MACC had completed its initial investigations and had handed over the papers to its Legal and Prosecution Division for further action.

Muhyiddin declined to comment on calls by certain groups to suspend politicians named in the audit report pending investigations.

“I have no view about that. As the Prime Minister said, let it be handled by the parties concerned. Ong has been given that responsibility.

“It is not fair for me to make any comments which may have repercussions.

“We have to handle this matter very carefully,” Muhyiddin added.