Thesun 2009-06-11 Page01 Action On Pkfz

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No. 4778 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)

Thursday June 11, 2009

TELLING IT AS IT IS

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Action on PKFZ » TASK FORCE FORMED » COMMITTEES TO OVERSEE PROJECT by Husna Yusop

people in the task force and the committees, said: “They have given their commitment to perform proper and UTRAJAYA: Two weeks after transparent tasks. A lot of work lies an independent audit report on ahead and I have given the task force the Port Klang Free Zone fiasco no longer than two months. made shocking disclosures on “They should come back with clear management and governance issues, recommendations on how to rectify the Transport Ministry set up a task the wrongs and pursue appropriate force to rectify the wrongs and to pur- legal remedies.” sue appropriate legal remedies. Asked to specify the terms of referIts minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat ence of the task force, Ong said: “We said the task force has two months to are looking into the nitty-gritty details, come up with recommendations based including the outstanding debts and on the findings of the Pricewaterhouse- all financial details because we Coopers (PwC) audit report. believe there are more things we A committee on corporate govern- should do.” ance and an executive committee have He added that some of the contracts also been formed to oversee highlighted in the report all future governance issues would also be re-looked. to ensure that the lapses Asked if the ministry that have been identified was serious in taking action in the report do not recur, against those responsible, he told a press conference he said: “We will work yesterday evening. within our jurisdiction. The task force is headed That’s why immediately by law firm Skrine and Co’s after the release of the reVinayak Pradhan, who is port, I directed Lee to hand former commissioner with over a copy to the Malaysian Paul Low the United Nations ComAnti Corruption Commispensation Commission and sion and Public Accounts member of the Permanent Court of Committee.” Arbitration. He will be assisted by However, he said the task force Skrine partner Lim Chee Wee, PwC will not look into the RM148 milAdvisory Services Sdn Bhd managing lion lawsuit by Mega-Wan Sdn Bhd director Chin Kwai Fatt and senior against PKA as it is considered a executive director Lim San Peen. separate matter. Transparency InternationalHe also refused to pre-empt any Malaysia president Datuk Paul Low legal action that may arise from the Seng Kuan heads the corporate task force recommendations. governance committee. Another Pressed if the ministry could take member is Nik Mohd Hasyudeen action against anyone, Ong said: “I Yusoff, president of the Malaysian am not going to put the cart before Institute of Accountants. the horse now. We have to follow the PKA chairman Datuk Lee Hwa procedure with due diligence.” Beng heads the executive committee, Lee said in a statement the task which will plan and monitor PKFZ’s force will assist in legal review and business development. financial restructuring, adding that Ong, who earlier met the key other professionals as appropriate [email protected]

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may be engaged later. “The task force has to make indepth analyses and studies within its given scope of expertise and provide PKA the appropriate recommendations for follow-up action to be taken by the government,” he said. Lee said PKFZ, which has cost taxpayers more than RM4 billion, has to strengthen its marketing and management expertise and come up with more innovative and sustainable campaigns and operating systems to attract more investors. “The executive committee must at the same time ensure that all future activities and new developments at PKFZ are carried out in a cost-effective and transparent manner,” he said. Other members of the exco are Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers chairman Tan Sri Prof Dr James Alfred A. David, Malaysian Industrial Development Authority director-general Datuk Jalilah Baba, Real Estate and Housing Developers Association deputy president Datuk Michael Yam, HRSC System & Consulting Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Mohd Haslah Mohd Amin and Tan Goh & Associates managing partner Tan Foong Luen. A website (www.pkfznews.com. my) has been created to provide updates and news in relation to the PwC report and questions arising to avoid irresponsible parties from making unsubstantiated claims. On Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing’s lawsuits against individuals including the person in charge of PKA, Lee said: “He has been making statements about taking action. Until we receive it (legal letters), I won’t comment.” Kuala Dimensi sold the Pulau Indah land to PKA and is also the turnkey developer for PKFZ.

» See also Page 2

soldier secures the area as villagers pay their respects as they pray in a mosque in the Cho-i-Rong district in the southern province of Narathiwat on Tuesday, a day after gunmen killed 11 people during evening prayers. A top Thai lawmaker said yesterday that the attack was most likely carried out by a “shadow group” which wants to wedge mistrust and conflict between the majority Muslim population and the Buddhists and the government. .

» See also Page 12

Colleges ban jeans to ‘protect’ students LUCKNOW: Female students in colleges in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh will be banned from wearing jeans and other Western clothes to halt sexual harassment by male classmates. “Girls who choose to wear jeans will be expelled,” Meeta Jamal, principal of the Dayanand girls’ college in Kanpur city told AFP. “This is the only way to stop crime against women.” A growing number of colleges in Uttar Pradesh have decided to outlaw jeans, shorts, tight blouses and miniskirts on campus in an attempt to crack down on “Eveteasing” – as sexual harassment is known in India. But many of the students, aged between 17 and 20, said the new

rules punished innocent females rather than tackle the men who treated women badly. “Banning any clothing will certainly never solve the issue of sexual harassment,” said Uzma, a graduate student from Lucknow University. Hindu extremist groups have in recent months attacked women drinking in pubs and threatened couples who make public displays of affection. The vigilantes claimed they were acting to protect conservative values against the spreading influence of Western culture. Some colleges in the country have previously banned the wearing of jeans, but protests forced the dress regulations to be reversed. – AFP