Thesun 2009-06-23 Page05 Rm12

theSun

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| TUESDAY JUNE 23 2009

news without borders

Maria J. Dass, Giam Say Khoon and Hemananthani Sivanandam at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday

briefs Eight minutes of shame, says Lim DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang decribed Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat’s statement on the Port Klang Free Zone in parliament as “eight minutes of shame”. “The minister did not reveal anything new to the public in his eight-mute statement. He spent 40 minutes in a press conference to explain his ministerial statement. Instead, he should have spent 40 minutes in the house ... ,” Lim said at the parliament lobby. The Ipoh Timor MP said he expected a longer session in the house to debate what he called “the scandal of all scandals”. Describing it as more heinous than former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s RM2.5 billion Bumiputra Malaysia Finance scandal, Lim challenged Ong to issue a ministerial statement on all cabinet meetings held since 1999 on matters relating to the PKFZ.

Speed-limiting device for express buses THE Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) is studying the suitability and effectiveness of installing a speed-limiting device on express buses in an effort to prevent accidents, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said. A study is necessary as the measure would involve additional cost to the transportation industry, whose view would be sought before any policy is implemented, he said in replying to a question from Datuk Johari Abdul (PKR-Sungai Petani). Ong also said the government did not intend to require express and tourist buses to lock their accelerator pedal mechanisms to control the speed of the vehicles. He said the CVLB had made it a requirement, effective August last year, for new express buses to be equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) facility before they could be licensed. “This enabled express bus operators to monitor and supervise bus drivers and learn of offences committed in real time.” – Bernama

Animal Feed Bill after 14 years THE House passed the Animal Feed Bill 2008 which among others facilitates the establishment of a Animal Feed Board. Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Noh Omar, in winding up the debate on the Bill, said the board would supervise the quality of animal feed and supplements by controlling their import, production, sale and consumption. The aim is to ensure animal feed fulfils nutrient needs and is not contaminated so that the animals and products are safe for human consumption and other purposes, he said. On the 14-year delay in tabling the Bill, he said the government had to consider its readiness as well as that of the industry in terms of the need for capacity development and to ensure effective implementation and enforcement. “Besides, careful study was also needed to ensure its implementation was in line and did not overlap with other laws such as the Poison Act 1952 and Food Act 1983, so that all relevant laws complemented each other in accordance with the food safety concept from farm to table.” – Bernama

‘RTM carries news on Opposition, too’

RM12.5b cost only if loan repayment delayed: Ong THE Port Klang Free Zone’s (PKFZ) cost of RM12.5 billion as estimated by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in its position review is hypothetical, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said. In his four-page ministerial statement, Ong said the overall cost of RM12.5 billion in 2051 would only apply if the Port Klang Authority (PKA) – still on schedule with its projected cash flow for up to 2051 – delayed its repayment of a RM4.38 billion soft loan from the government. “The estimation was also made by PwC in a scenario in which there is no government intervention or effort by the PKA to promote PKFZ. The fact is, PKFZ Sdn Bhd has initiated promotions and the PKA is seeing results as more tenants show interest (in the PKFZ),” he said. Ong pointed out that the main problem with the PKFZ was the increase in the overall cost of the project. He said the initial estimated cost for land acquisition and development in 2002 was only RM1.96 billion, which increased to RM3.53 billion last year. Ong explained that based on the interest from delayed payments to PKFZ’s turnkey developer Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd as well as the variation order and professional fee, the development cost would balloon to RM4.9 billion in 2017. He said a special taskforce to address the PKFZ’s shortcomings had been established to benefit the public and not to fulfill the political agenda of any party. When Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) attempted to take Ong to task for reading out his statement, Ong called him a “creature”. He was told to retract his word by Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar following a protest from Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah). Lim also led a walkout by DAP MPs to protest being denied the opportunity to ask questions after Ong had presented

his statement. Earlier, when replying to Lim during question time, Ong said: “The current scenario shows that stern and comprehensive action had been taken by the Transport Ministry. It is unfortunate that there is an individual who twisted (the facts) and spread lies that PKFZ’s debt had ballooned to RM12.5 billion.” He said the project’s cost could not be finalised as its accounts had yet to be closed, pendi ng a possible financial restructuring following a report by the special taskforce. Ong also said Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who is the Bintulu MP, was only the chief executive officer of Kuala Dimensi, the company that sold the land to the PKA. “According to my records, he (Tiong) did not hold any position on PKA’s board nor in PKFZ Sdn Bhd when the transaction and development of the land took place,” he said to a question on whether Tiong had a conflict of interest in the deal. In a supplementary question, Lim demanded that Ong name the culprits behind the PKFZ scandal and that former PKA chairman and transport minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik explain the matter, to which Ong said the issue could not be resolved if Lim continued to be hysterical. “It is clear the senior MP (Lim) did not read the report. What had been questioned is stated in the PwC report and it is not up to PwC to tell us who should face action.” When Lim continued to press for names, he was stopped by Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee. In a press conference in the parliament lobby, Ong said he regretted the actions of Lim and his colleagues in ignoring the Standing Orders during question time. “We have followed the rules in

answering all relevant questions, but a ministerial statement should only be read out without any interjection or questions,” he said. Ong said that if Lim had “intellectual depth”, he would not have misinterpreted or twisted the report, especially on the PKFZ’s estimated overall cost of RM12.5 billion in 2051. Ong also rebutted a claim that he had applied for another soft loan of RM1.2 billion for the PKFZ from the government last year in his capacity as transport minister. He said it was part of a RM4.38 billion soft loan approved by the Finance Ministry in 2007 and that he had only written to former prime minister and finance minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to notify him of the confirmed principal sum under the development agreement. “I had only carried out my duty and the loan was approved before my tenure as transport minister began.”

RADIO Televisyen Malaysia broadcasts news by their overall value and provides coverage of the opposition too. Deputy Information Communication and Culture Minister, Senator Heng Seai Kie, said programmes and news items were broadcast by the station based on the criteria of worthiness such as national interest, currency, human and public interest. “RTM’s news coverage has to do with its main role as the official media, so it is different from private TV stations. We have a committee that manages issues to determine news worthiness,” she said in reply to Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas). “RTM’s news coverage of the Opposition depends on whether it is of public interest. For instance, we covered the recent PAS general assembly.” – Bernama

MINISTER in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz tabled for first reading the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Amendment) Bill 2009. The amendment seeks to consolidate transparency in the appointment of Suhakam members with a provision for the participation of civil society in the process. It seeks to amend Section 11A of the Act to provide for a change in the membership of the committee established under the section, with the three prominent persons replaced by three members of civil society having knowledge or practical experience in the matter of human rights. The bill also seeks to delete Sub-section 11A(6) of the Act which states that the prime minister is not bound by the views or proposals of the appointed members of the commission. – Bernama

ORIENTALDAILYPIX

1st reading of bill to amend Suhakam Act

Kit Siang wants apology LIM Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) has demanded that Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat apologise for alleged contempt of parliament and breach of privilege in the delivery of a ministerial statement on the Port Klang Free Zone. He accused Ong of deliberately misleading the House in failing to give a full and proper account of the cabinet’s decisions in relation to the acquisition of land for the PKFZ. “Ong misled the House when he said the cabinet on Oct 2, 2002, made the decision to allow the Port Klang Authority to buy 1,000 acres of land for RM1.08 billion at RM25 per square foot, based on the position of the Selangor government that the land could not be acquired under Section 3 (1) (a) of the Land Acquisition Act 1960 because the PKFZ was not a public project,” Lim said. “I pointed out that Ong had misled parliament as he had not referred to a cabinet decision three weeks later on October 23, 2002 that the land should be acquired by the Transport Ministry under the Act at the price of RM10.16 per square foot.” He said Ong had not replied to this, which was another instance of ministerial irresponsibility and cowardice. “If Ong fails to tender a public apology in the next 24 hours, I will submit a motion to refer him to the Committee of Privileges for violating Standing Order 36 (12). “This is what Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said was the option before me, based on his understanding of the scandal involving British war minister John Profumo when he made a ministerial statement in parliament which proved to be incorrect and untrue.”

Lim and Ong make up after their shouting match in the House.

Transparency International seeks anti-corruption heroes BERLIN: Transparency International (TI), the global anti-corruption organisation, is calling for nominations for the 2009 Integrity Awards which recognise unfaltering courage, exceptional leadership or innovation in fighting corruption, particularly under difficult circumstances. Now in its eighth edition, the awards have honoured individuals and organisations from Asia and Africa, Europe,

Latin America and the Middle East. These have included journalists, public prosecutors, accountants, government officials and leaders of civil society who have gone against the current to become examples and sources of inspiration in the fight against corruption in its many forms. “Behind every serious effort to fight bribery and embezzlement stands a

courageous magistrate or fearless journalist, a selfless whistleblower, an honest business person, a true civil servant or a resourceful NGO. The Integrity Awards exist because such persons or organisations deserve recognition for their contribution to a corruption-free society,” said Sion Assidon, head of the Integrity Awards Committee, which evaluates nominations and chooses

the winners. Launched in 2000, the goal of the awards is to offer greater recognition and support to those who unmask corruption and actively fight it, often at great personal risk. Last year, TI honoured David Leigh, onvestigations editor at the Guardian (UK) and Roman Shleynov, investigations editor at Novaya Gazeta (Russia) for their

research and exposure of corruption in defiance of bureaucratic obstacles and the risk of legal action against them, in order to penetrate secret webs. Nominations will be accepted until Sept 30. To download nomination forms and guidelines, log on to www.transparency. org/integrityawards.