Dr M: For Ling to cheat, his officers must be tainted
Lee Long HuiPublished: Feb 20, 2013 5:45 AM | Updated: Feb 20, 2013 8:54 AM
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has continued testifying in defence of former transport minister Dr Ling Liong Sik, noting that the latter could have only cheated the cabinet over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) land deal if there had been collusion with senior ministry officials.
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has continued testifying in defence of former transport minister Dr Ling Liong Sik, noting that the latter could have only cheated the cabinet over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) land deal if there had been collusion with senior ministry officials.
Testifying before Justice Ahmadi Asnawi in the Kuala Lumpur High Court today, Mahathir said each document tendered to the cabinet by a minister is prepared by ministry officers, including the secretary-general, before it is inspected and approved by the minister.
“To say the minister is trying to cheat the cabinet implies that the people who prepare the papers are colluding with him,” said Mahathir during the tail-end of the cross-examination by lead prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah (right).
However, Mahathir stressed that cabinet has the final say in decisions, regardless of the documents and advice of senior ministry officers.
Citing a meeting by Transport Ministry senior officers with Kuala Dimensi Sdb Bhd on the 1,000-acre land deal in Pulau Indah, Mahathir said the minister did not attend this and would have relied on his officer’s report.
“The minister also has the right to add, to correct and to request anything, but there’s no evidence in this case that the minister had asked to make changes to incorporate his view ... There’s no evidence of cheating,” he said.
If the minister insists on signing reports, even when told by the secretary-general that these may jeopardise the national interest, the senior officer can take the matter higher up, Mahathir explained.
The secretary-general can refer the matter to the chief secretary to the government, who will then inform the prime minister, he said.
“
If it so happens that the chief secretary informs me, I would call the minister concerned for an explanation,” he explained.
Under re-examination by defence lawyer Wong Kian Kheong (left), Mahathir said the cabinet can decide on the land price and interest without referring to the report by the Valuation and Property Services Department.
“In terms of final say, it’s the cabinet, although the decision might be influenced by the paper prepared by the minister,” he said.
In the PKFZ case, he added, the cabinet had arrived at consensus in deciding to purchase the land.
Najib and Pak Lah to testify
The hearing was adjourned today and will resume on March 12 , with former human resources minister Fong Chan Onn to testify as a defence witness.
Wong further told the court that the defence plans to call the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim to testify.
Ling is charged with deceiving the cabinet into approving the purchase of 999.5 acres of land for the PKFZ project, which had allegedly resulted in losses for the government.
He was charged on July 29, 2010, under Section 418 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison, or a fine or both upon conviction. He faces two alternative charges.
Testifying before Justice Ahmadi Asnawi in the Kuala Lumpur High Court today, Mahathir said each document tendered to the cabinet by a minister is prepared by ministry officers, including the secretary-general, before it is inspected and approved by the minister.
“To say the minister is trying to cheat the cabinet implies that the people who prepare the papers are colluding with him,” said Mahathir during the tail-end of the cross-examination by lead prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah (right).However, Mahathir stressed that cabinet has the final say in decisions, regardless of the documents and advice of senior ministry officers.
Citing a meeting by Transport Ministry senior officers with Kuala Dimensi Sdb Bhd on the 1,000-acre land deal in Pulau Indah, Mahathir said the minister did not attend this and would have relied on his officer’s report.
“The minister also has the right to add, to correct and to request anything, but there’s no evidence in this case that the minister had asked to make changes to incorporate his view ... There’s no evidence of cheating,” he said.
If the minister insists on signing reports, even when told by the secretary-general that these may jeopardise the national interest, the senior officer can take the matter higher up, Mahathir explained.
The secretary-general can refer the matter to the chief secretary to the government, who will then inform the prime minister, he said.
“
If it so happens that the chief secretary informs me, I would call the minister concerned for an explanation,” he explained.Under re-examination by defence lawyer Wong Kian Kheong (left), Mahathir said the cabinet can decide on the land price and interest without referring to the report by the Valuation and Property Services Department.
“In terms of final say, it’s the cabinet, although the decision might be influenced by the paper prepared by the minister,” he said.
In the PKFZ case, he added, the cabinet had arrived at consensus in deciding to purchase the land.
Najib and Pak Lah to testify
The hearing was adjourned today and will resume on March 12 , with former human resources minister Fong Chan Onn to testify as a defence witness.
Wong further told the court that the defence plans to call the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim to testify.Ling is charged with deceiving the cabinet into approving the purchase of 999.5 acres of land for the PKFZ project, which had allegedly resulted in losses for the government.
He was charged on July 29, 2010, under Section 418 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison, or a fine or both upon conviction. He faces two alternative charges.
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