PAC wants Chan Kong Choy and OC Phang investigated for CBT

(The Star) – The Public Accounts Committee has recommended that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission or the police to investigate former Transport Minister Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy and former Port Klang Authority general manager Datin Paduka OC Phang for criminal breach of trust over the Port Klang Free Zone project.

The committee, which is investigating the scandal-ridden PKFZ, has found both Chan and Phang to have breached the Financial Procedure Act 1957 by issuing three letters of support and three letters of undertaking without the approval of the Finance Ministry.

On Tuesday, PAC committee member Tony Pua told reporters at the Parliament lobby that the committee was recommending that action be taken against a former Transport Minister and several officials for criminal breach of trust.

He added that the officials included the PKFZ board of directors and Transport Ministry officials. He, however, declined to name the ex-minister concerned.

“Many people are responsible. There are nearly 10 people on the board itself. From the report, we know that many officials have been negligent in their duties.

“There are also elements whereby officials have not taken into account their responsibilities to the Government, and some have negligently caused massive losses to the PKFZ project.

“We (PAC) only present the facts and opinion, and we call on the relevant authorities to take the appropriate action against those we believe are negligent,” he has said.

Asked on what form of offences that had been committed by the former minister, Pua has said: “To the PAC, the charges are serious. There are several issues involved, it’s not just about the letters.”

During the PAC inquiry on the PKFZ project, it was revealed that two former Transport Ministers had issued four letters of support for the project.