MPs pleased but with reservations on final outcome

Four politicians give their reactions after former transport minister Ling Liong Sik pleaded not guilty to two charges of cheating.

Ong Tee Keat, Pandan BN MP

The public wants to know the outcome of the investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police.

No one is above the law. But at this juncture I don't think it is appropriate for me to say more as I need to check the latest updates.

However even when I was the MCA president and the transport minister when I conducted the investigation (into PKFZ), I did not interfere or tell the investigators to be selective.

Whether or not it is going to affect MCA, we want to protect the interests of taxpayer and the people, not partisan interests and the authorities must keep the public informed of their findings.

If it is found there are fraudulent claims, then the public funds must be recovered.

It is unfair to link any individual's deeds to the party. If at all any party member were acting for their own gain, it is not fair to blame the party.

I am also from MCA, but when I pursued the matter, the credit was not given to the party.

Tony Pua, Petaling Jaya Utara DAP MP

Ling Liong Sik must also be investigated for his role in the approval and implementation of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project which commenced under his watch.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report's on the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal released last Wednesday has received ample media attention, with its specific references to the former transport minister Chan Kong Choy, the former Port Klang Authority general manager OC Phang and to a lesser extent, the secretary-generals of the Transport Ministry Zaharah Shaari (June 1999 to July 2005) and Safaruddin Muhd. Sidek (July 2005 to Oct 2006).

However, based on the details and testimonies provided in the full report, the government and its agencies such as the newly-set up super task force headed by the chief secretary Mohd Sidek Hassan, the police force as well as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must also initiate detailed investigations against the other former minister who initiated the PKFZ project, Ling.

During his testimony to the PAC, when Ling was posed certain key questions with regard to the project, he had answered "I can't remember" or its equivalent at least 11 times, which raises doubts with regard to the veracity of his answers.

The situation even reached a point of incredulity when deputy Public Accounts Committee chairperson, Tan Seng Giaw asked, "Tun, did you know of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd or KDSB, before you left the ministry... did you know about it?" and Ling responded with "I may have heard about it."

However, when probed further by the PAC as to why the government had decided to retrospectively approve the guarantee for the four letters of support, including the three issued by Chan, (attorney-general) Abdul Gani Patail informed the PAC that the word of the government is worth its weight in gold.

Hence even if the letter did not specifically contain elements of guarantee, the government is obliged to honour its word.

Therefore, Ling has also committed the government to bearing the cost of the project amounting to RM1.31 billion as the amount that was raised by KDSB based on his letter of support.

There are many other instances of wrongdoing which are highlighted in the PAC report which occurred during the period in which Ling was the transport minister.

It defies believe that for a project which is claimed to be of such great importance to the ministry and country, Ling had little knowledge or can't remember at all what happened during the period.

We call upon Ling to be fully investigated by the relevant authorities, and no stones must be left unturned including the cabinet meeting minutes which were inaccessible to the PAC, to determine the full extent of Ling's involvement since the project was first mooted in the mid-1990s.

At the very least, Ling must be investigated for wilful negligence in the carrying out of his responsibilities as the transport minister .

Tian Chua, Batu PKR MP

It seems that it timely that (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak's) is on leave. He does not want to answer questions regarding this.

I suppose he wants to avoid any embarrassment but we hope that it will not be like (land and cooperative development minister) Kasitah Gaddam's case. It was a high-profile case but it dragged on and then just fizzled out.

We still have to look carefully. Yesterday (Transport Minister) Kong (Cho Ha) had instructed Port Klang Authority (PKA) to issue payments to Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB).

(Today) they arrested (Ling) for misleading the cabinet but to say that the cabinet did not know about it is quite suspicious. (They are) basically taking away the blame from the cabinet and Ling becomes the scapegoat.

Until today KDSB is being compensated but it looks like the government is showing to a certain extent that it is taking serious action, but it is still protecting certain parties as KDSB continues to get payments.

So this is not really solving the problems faced by the taxpayers. Ling and his group are being penalised while (KDSB owner) Tiong (King Sing) and his group, who have a stake in this, are being spared.

It is still too early to welcome this move.

Dzulkefly Ahmad, Kuala Selangor PAS MP

Will the chickens come home to roost? All along the accusations of Lim Kit Siang and the opposition have been true. I think Najib is giving the false impression that he is on the road to reform.

I challenge him (Najib) to go through with this. It is the mother of all scandals that is unfolding. PKFZ is Umno working hand-in-glove with MCA.

I assume they want to end this fiasco quickly. They have certainly crafted their plot well. With the judiciary being what it is I don't think it will go far.

I would like to see it as the victory of the people, but at the same time I am reminded that our judiciary is not independent.