The Malaysian Insider

Malaysia

Anwar: Dr Ling charged because PKFZ scandal too big

By Yoges Palaniappan
Jul 31, 2010

Anwar believes the consistent clamour from Pakatan for action contributed to the Dr LingBAGAN SERAI, July 31 — Former Transport Minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik was charged over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) fiasco because Putrajaya “could not hide the scandal anymore”, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last night.</p> <p>He said although the opposition had been “making noise” about the matter for the four past years, the government did not take any action.</p> <p>“Every time we bring up the issue, we were labelled anti-nationalists. And now since they cannot deny it anymore, they have charged [Dr] Ling Liong Sik,” the PKR de facto leader said at a ceramah here.</p> <p>“The MCA called us liars and said we were publicising a matter that does not exist,” he said, referring to Dr Ling's political party.</p> <p>“In this country, the rich can do anything. They can even murder someone and get away with it,” he told some 350 people who braved heavy rain to attend the ceramah held in the Beng Sean Seah hall here.</p> <p>Dr Ling was charged two days ago for cheating the government by misleading the Cabinet on land acquisition for the PKFZ project in Klang.</p> <p>The charges concern land valuations under the Penal Code with the principle charge under Section 418, with the alternative charge under Section 417.</p> <p>He faces up to seven years in jail for the first charge and up to five years’ imprisonment under the alternative charge. Both carry a fine.</p> <p>He pleaded not guilty and was later granted a RM1 million bail by judge Suzana Hussin with one surety.</p> <p>Dr Ling is the fifth and the highest ranking person to be charged in relation to the PKFZ scandal.</p> <p>Late last year, former PKA general manager Datin Paduka OC Phang and three others were charged with criminal breach of trust (CBT) and cheating by making false claims.</p> <p>PKR and its allies in the Pakatan Rakyat have criticised the government for failing to bring

The PKFZ was modelled after Dubai's successful Jebel Ali free zone but has thus far failed to attract enough business to be self-sufficient.