Tee Keat soft-pedals on PKFZ, says Kit Siang twisted facts

UPDATED

By Neville Spykerman

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 — Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat today played down the staggering cost of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) in his address to Parliament this morning, as the government tried to minimise the political damage of the scandal.

The Transport Minister claimed the development cost of the PKFZ would only spiral to RM12.5 billion, as estimated by PricewaterhouseCoopers in its audit report, if the government did not intervene.

Ong accused the DAP's Lim Kit Siang of twisting the facts of the audit report and described the move as “hysteria”.

He was replying to a question by the Ipoh Timur MP who wanted to know the reason for the the delay of the PKFZ report despite the minister’s initial vow not to conceal any weaknesses or offences in relation to the scandal which involves public funds.

The delay was caused because the government had to remove the report from the Official Secrets Act while PricewaterhouseCoopers wanted to be indemnified from legal action.

Ong said the report also had to be tabled before the Cabinet before it could be released to the public.

He said 300 complete copies of the report had already been delivered to Parliament and it was now up to the secretariat to distribute it to MPs.

Lim in turn took a swipe at the minister for attending the Paris Airshow instead of delivering his ministerial statement on PKFZ last week.

A shouting match then ensued, with Kinabatangan member Datuk Bung Moktar Radin who repeatedly demanded the DAP stalwart ask a question instead of taking pot shots at the minister.

But Lim cited Ong’s statement in the press today that the shame of the PKFZ scandal rests on the culprits responsible and Lim asked who these culprits were.

Ong said the matter had been referred to the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission to investigate.

He added that it was unwise for the Port Klang Authority to point fingers as they would be opening themselves to legal liability.

“We will also be accused of being the investigator, prosecutor and judge in the matter,” he said.

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written by Judge, June 22, 2009

I bet the decision on PKFZ will be No Further Action (NFA).

All the culprits will be free fromany charges even the evidence is in front of everybody.

OTK, keep licking your master UMNO shoes, come next election we will make sure your master is gone totally.

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written by nawawimohamad, June 22, 2009

“We will also be accused of being the investigator, prosecutor and judge in the matter,” he said.

Why not, every agency is under the UMNO/BN government.

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written by Leong Yook Kong, June 22, 2009

All PR MPs stood up to request Speaker to reject the Ministerial statement but to no avail. Surely, it is going to be a "cover up." Let it be. Wait until GE13.

The people are very sure that PKFZ is not a "gold mine" to Malaysia. The people will only find out who caused the downfall of PKFZ after GE13.

..., Lowly rated comment [Show]

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written by No one is guilty, June 22, 2009

The predicted end result = nobody will be guilty.
There might be some drama of some people being charged, but in the end nobody will be found guilty.
"Insufficient proofs" or whatever nonsense excuses will be thrown out.

At best, some small "ikan bilis" might be prosecuted, but "ikan jerung" will still be free...

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written by Onlooker, June 22, 2009

after so many years and under so many transport ministers, the project is still still bleeding with no end in sight. Is that how the govt spending responsibly with rakyat's tax money?

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written by CHF, June 22, 2009

Another case in point where the "dirty linens" are swept underneath the carpet. The appointment of Pricewaterhouse Coopers to conduct the audit a further waste of tax payers money because the 300 pages report will be classified as an "EIF" (Exercise In Futility). At the end of the day, no one will be held accountable and it will be "business as usual" for the government.

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written by Spock, June 22, 2009

I will look into my crystal ball...ummmm...uh huh...hmm.....I...I....got it!! OH!! You are right lah JUDGE, No Further Action.

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written by amoker, June 22, 2009

seemed that we have cyber MCA operators around.
please la, he did run away and in communicato for many days. And the disappearence of Ahmad said of MACC when he is supposed to answer question on PKFZ is also a coincidence?

This statement is useless and is a spin. No direct truth in it. How much wold government intervene? The assurance that it will not balloon up from 1.2 Billion, repeatedly ... is nothing. Spending like crazy.. now they give green light for PKFZ to tour the world and spend more money. i want my tax money back , Stupid tee keat.

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written by Hwa beng Lee, June 22, 2009

At least the report is still available to the public www.pkfznews.com.my and all MPs given a copy together with the appendices.What further can the Minister do ? PKA or MOT has no prosecuting power,only MACC.

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written by Matureman07, June 22, 2009

Correct, correct, correct Judge.

Well they will make you believe they are doing something but in fact they are not doing anything beside talking talking and talking.

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written by wkc, June 22, 2009

Expected ! This has been the standard reply by these politicians for all the scandals they have committed for the past 30 years. And when they say they will refer to the case to MACC, it is as good as telling us it is "case closed". With the help of their fellow politicians, they will divert attention through personal attacks and to other unrelated issues. Imagine - RM12.5 billion of our hard earned tax money disappeared and those responsible are safely & anonymously hiding behind the protection of their present colleagues. Flour, sugar, petrol & other subsidies to be cut because Govt cannot afford them but can afford such multi billion illegal siphonings.

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written by Simple Simon, June 22, 2009

The country is in a recession. The average rakyat is tightening his belt along that of his family.

Yet our political elite treats RM 12.5b as if it is nothing.

Simply amazing.

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written by islandman, June 22, 2009

OngTaKut,
Why the report out after MCA election and not before MCA election as you promised just after 308?
Why there is a minister who requested goverment to approve RM1.2B bill but did not know exactly what is the bill is? (If not wrong, this issue is hide out in this so called "report"... why?)
From LLS, CKC till OTK, why we need so long to triggered this failed project? We know this issue since years.... slow slow respond from your side......

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written by S F, June 22, 2009

How do you expect the citizens of this country not to be cynical about the outcome of the PKFZ scandal when high profile cases have been swept under the carpet? Remember Lingam, Kugan and she who shall not be named?

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written by Joker, June 22, 2009

Bong Kang Ah keat, i dare to bet with you 100 to 1 that no action will be taken against anyone in this scandal.

Don't talk big!

MCA is sinking and is sinking very fast!

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written by urangsabah, June 22, 2009

OTK, $12.5 billion a small issue kah?

$12.5 billion can give alot of Gov't scholarship to every Malaysia assuming 1 million per student. My arimethic not so good......but based on a population of 29 million, the RM1.0 million can be given to the whole of Malaysian population 430 times.......

Assumming RM1.0 million is given to each Malaysian, All Malaysian will be a millionaire 430 times over

But $12.5 million aready gone? So JPA scholarship issue will carry on.......poverty will remained and of course a HANDFUL OF BN POLITICIAN WILL BE BILLIONAIRE.

Who would be punished.................................................NFA as the money disappeared without a trace....X file Mulder should be call in..

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written by MoMo, June 22, 2009

I don't care about OTK or LKS. The fact remains that big time corruption was involved and I just want all the CULPRITS to be punished!

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written by Charlie's Angels, June 22, 2009

To give an accountability statement (ministerial statement) on the mother of all scandals in just 8 minutes is an insult to the intelligence of the members of parliament and the Malaysian public. OTK has failed in his fiduciary responsibility as a minister-in-charge of the PKA. Ever mind about protecting the interests of the nation and its Rakyak as he often claims. Just whose interests are these people serving??

The case is smack of conflict of interests and political decency demands nothing less than immediate resignations of the minister-in-charge and those implicated, short of which would bring mockery on the system and integrity of our government.

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written by goh, June 22, 2009

Is Price Waterhouse Cooper guilty of conspiracy, non disclosure of evident, failure to report etc etc.

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written by kg, June 22, 2009

Reply to MoMo,

If LKS do not take up the issue who would? I am disappointed that you said you don't care about him, without HIS hard work and effort, we would not have got the details and the huge sum of money involved in this"mother of all scandal" as quoted by LKS.
He is fighting for the taxpayers and exposed the corruption of BN business. Do you expect MCA, Gerakan, Mic or UMNO to go after their own? GIve credit when credit is due.

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written by John Lim, June 22, 2009

All OTK wants to to do is to protect all his friends and cronies in BN in the PKFZ scandals!!! Big shame on MCA and BN!! be it 125 billion or 50 billion (damages to date)...BN is fully responsible for this scandals and some of the bloody heads must roll!!! don't try to fool Rakyat here, Ong Tee Keat the coward!!

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written by John Lim, June 22, 2009

OTK needs to depend on the beast from Kinabatangan - Bung Moktar Radin to protect him from being bombarded by PR members...hahahaha..what a big shame on MCA - the Malaysia Coward cum Cheaters Association!!

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written by Hwa beng Lee, June 23, 2009

Talk is cheap.Wait for more action from the Task Force and Paul Low's Corporate Governance Committee.

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written by sham, June 23, 2009

This is a crying shame for the country, mismanagement of such a degree and magnitude is treated lightly...

The entire BN govt and including the PM must be held accountable for this!!!

Enough is Enough!!!

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written by Bigjoe, June 23, 2009

Lack depth, twisted fact etc. All these should sound familiar to many Malaysian because these are the same lines used by mediocre teachers in our schools. I remember feeling very similar when listening to teachers that did not know their job well. They gave poor explanations to students.

Thank you NEP for dumbing down even our top Chinese minister just like the UMNOputras like that from Kinabatangan. You know you are crap as MCA minister you need the right-wing ultras in UMNO to defend you...

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written by Jason Sim, June 23, 2009

Who wouldn't be hysterical when such an amount of money is going down the drain and no one is trying to even save it? Only BN members would be relaxed, since to them, public money should be spent, spent, spent like no tomorrow!

LKS Has been harping on this issue for years now, and I'm glad he did. If he didn't, nothing would've come out of it. At least now we can see the scandal blow up in OTK's face. We don't need any culprits, we just need another story to fuel the hatred when GE13 comes.

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