YOURSAY ‘Now the AG is called stupid, the rakyat await him to take action.’

AG was 'stupid' on PKFZ project, says Ling

Awakened: Former transport minister Dr Ling Liong Sik, since the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal was highlighted by MCA's former president Ong Tee Keat, the attorney-general (AG) must find a "scapegoat" from MCA.

Besides, PKFZ is under the Transport Ministry although the purchase of the land is approved by the cabinet.

Technically, the head of the cabinet or the entire cabinet should be charged if the AG wants to really find fault with the process of purchasing the land. But you know who the AG reports to.  

It is not a question whether the purchase was a right or wrong decision, but at what price the land was bought. I understand that PKFZ was bought at a price very much higher than market value.  

It was the rakyat who had to pay the exorbitant price when the cabinet made the decision based on the wrong advice.

Mosquito: The AG continues to charge Ling with cheating and deceiving the prime minister of the day, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who unequivocally declared that he was not deceived by Ling, and that it was a cabinet decision.  

Charges should have been dropped at that juncture and not waste our time and public funds by continuing with the court case.  

Of course, some doubters may say that the charges were framed hastily and poorly so that Ling would eventually get off on technicality.

But if it is true that Ling was charged first and the evidence was obtained later, as he claims, then the accusations by former police officer Mat Zain Ibrahim by way of statutory declaration that the AG had fabricated evidence in the sodomy case against Anwar Ibrahim may have some weight.

Oh Ya?: The ruling elite, be they Umno, MCA, MIC or PBB, have elevated themselves to God status that cannot be mocked and prosecuted if they have done something wrong.

They can get away, even with murder and treason. Now the AG is called stupid, the rakyat will keenly await him taking action against Ling, just to prove that the AG’s Chambers is not a tool of the ruling elite.

Anonymous #40538199: Beware Ling, unless you already have some understanding with Penang Umno, or the whole thing is staged, you may be blamed for insulting the Malay leadership.

Lim Chong Leong: No, Ling. The AG is stupid for just putting up a ‘sandiwara’ charge and court case.

But he was right in prosecuting because the land was bought at inflated prices. The federal government could have bought it from the state government at a dirt cheap price. There was a pretty clear-cut ripoff job involving the initial sale and sub sales.

And Ling, there is no point comparing with today's prices. We cannot sell yesterday's products at today's prices.  So you cannot say PKFZ made money. For buying at the inflated prices of yesteryear, it has lost already.

Just like the kangkung price. It was cheap yesterday, but expensive now because all Umno members are ordered to eat kangkung to support their ‘Malay’ PM. We cannot say just because we bought yesterday's kangkung, we are rich today and we are clever and we can call people stupid.

Clearwater: Yes, stupid AG. He purposely let you fall through the big crack in the floor. Now, all can enjoy their PKFZ loot without further legal harassment.

Victor Johan: Ling said, "The land was sold for PKFZ at RM21 per sq ft - that was the sales price. Today, it is worth RM70 to RM80 per sq ft. That's already a profit."  

Obviously with some development on that land, the land value had gone up over the years, but the rakyat, who are not stupid, also want to know at what price was it got from the initial landowners, before being sold to the PKFZ?  

We know of the exorbitant profits made by the cronies. It was not a 'willing-buyer-willing-seller' basis. We ain't stupid like the AG, allegedly. And he got you off scot-free.

James1067: Anybody who owns a property or land would have gained by it as prices have gone up. It is not rocket science but due to the economics at hand.

The question is whether a crime was committed when the land was bought. That is the question but it looks like it was the AG or you but the public that had been made stupid.

Telestai!: Ling Liong Sik, we agree that the AG is stupid to charge you. Why are we not surprised that the charges didn't stick and it turned out to be mere lip service by your BN cronies?

I was reminded by a friend that your name sounds like ling (take) loh (take) sik (eat) and now you have a Tun (swallow). As a fellow Chinese, I am ashamed of you.
        
Onyourtoes: That is a nincompoop talking economics. Why do you bother about the price now? Was RM21 per sq ft a fair price at the time of purchase?

My grandfather bought land in the same vicinity for RM3 per sq ft 50 years ago. Was he smarter than you or not?



The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.