PKFZ: Big guns to answer to PAC
S Pathmawathy & Kuek Ser Kuang KengPublished: Jul 1, 2009 9:32 AM | Updated: Jul 1, 2009 11:26 AM
Former transport ministers Chan Kong Choy and Dr Ling Liong Sik are among those likely to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in relation to the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) inquiry.
Former transport ministers Chan Kong Choy and Dr Ling Liong Sik are among those likely to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in relation to the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) inquiry.
Deputy Finance Minister Chor Chee Hueng (left) and Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Tiong King Sing (right) - also Barisan Nasional Backbenchers chairperson - are also expected to be called up.
According to a source, the PAC had a “long debate” this morning and came up with a list of names of those involved with the project since 2002.
PAC chairperson Azmi Khalid, told reporters at the Parliament lobby today that the individuals will have to explain certain matters, in order to connect the dots on how the project cost escalated from RM2 billion to RM12.5 billion.
Azmi said the committee is “digging deeper” into several aspects that may have been overlooked by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“At the moment we are updating our report and we are calling a lot more people to give an explanation...but we in PAC have no powers to ransack for files, so this we leave to this to MACC,” he said.
Last week, MACC head Ahmad Said Hamdan had appeared before the PAC, but little was discussed as the scandal is still being investigated.
Advice obtained from AG
An audit report released in May had named three top politicians as among those involved in the scandal, with two being cited as having a conflict of interest.
Azmi said the PAC has also outlined several questions for those are to be called up.
“We have been advised by the attorney-general on several issues... sometimes things that may look wrong may not be legally wrong and these are certain things that need legal clarification,” said Azmi.
“We went into detail on the areas that need to be clarified... and in two weeks we expect to have some feedback.”
He did not specify how many people or who would be required to give a statement to the PAC.
“We hoping to talk to all those who were involved in the project, including contractors, civil servants and ministers,” said Azmi.
“We have our suspicions but we cannot base our findings based on suspicion... we have to clarify whether the wrong(doing)s are legally wrong.
"These people are not necessarily at fault... people who have been accused can also clear their name.”
Azmi added that the report is expected to be submitted to Parliament by the next session, as the committee is holding meetings every week.
Deputy Finance Minister Chor Chee Hueng (left) and Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Tiong King Sing (right) - also Barisan Nasional Backbenchers chairperson - are also expected to be called up.According to a source, the PAC had a “long debate” this morning and came up with a list of names of those involved with the project since 2002.
PAC chairperson Azmi Khalid, told reporters at the Parliament lobby today that the individuals will have to explain certain matters, in order to connect the dots on how the project cost escalated from RM2 billion to RM12.5 billion.Azmi said the committee is “digging deeper” into several aspects that may have been overlooked by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“At the moment we are updating our report and we are calling a lot more people to give an explanation...but we in PAC have no powers to ransack for files, so this we leave to this to MACC,” he said.
Last week, MACC head Ahmad Said Hamdan had appeared before the PAC, but little was discussed as the scandal is still being investigated.
Advice obtained from AG
An audit report released in May had named three top politicians as among those involved in the scandal, with two being cited as having a conflict of interest.
Azmi said the PAC has also outlined several questions for those are to be called up.
“We have been advised by the attorney-general on several issues... sometimes things that may look wrong may not be legally wrong and these are certain things that need legal clarification,” said Azmi.
“We went into detail on the areas that need to be clarified... and in two weeks we expect to have some feedback.”He did not specify how many people or who would be required to give a statement to the PAC.
“We hoping to talk to all those who were involved in the project, including contractors, civil servants and ministers,” said Azmi.
“We have our suspicions but we cannot base our findings based on suspicion... we have to clarify whether the wrong(doing)s are legally wrong.
"These people are not necessarily at fault... people who have been accused can also clear their name.”
Azmi added that the report is expected to be submitted to Parliament by the next session, as the committee is holding meetings every week.
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