Thesun 2009-08-24 Page02 Tee Keat Questions Tiongs Credibility

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| MONDAY AUGUST 24 2009

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Tee Keat questions Tiong’s credibility by Giam Say Khoon [email protected]

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat yesterday questioned the credibility of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, saying he does not qualify to ask for someone’s bank account to be investigated. Speaking to reporters after launching the Wanita MCA’s women and children aid bureau and counselling room, Ong added that Tiong can say whatever he likes but “I feel what is important is that justice and truth will be upheld” but not through publicity by Tiong. On Friday, Tiong, who is also the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club

chairman, urged the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the bank accounts of Ong and his wife following his allegation that he had given a RM10 million “loan” to Ong last year. Tiong made the allegation two weeks ago after KDSB, the turnkey developer for the controversial RM4.9 billion Port Klang Free Zone project, was alleged to have been involved in irregularities of between RM500 million and RM1 billion in a report by the PKFZ special task force. Ong had also said he will file a suit against Tiong today following Tiong’s refusal to withdraw his allegation. Asked if he has also been summoned by the MACC, after it said it would call party treasurer-general Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng today, Ong said he

has not been summoned although the party is aware of Tee’s call-up. In addition to Tee’s meeting with the MACC, it was learned the agency has obtained a copy of a donors list, which records all the donations made to the party. Asked if the party actually keeps a donors list, Ong said it will not be able to stop anyone from spreading rumours and he insisted that “in the end, the truth will prevail”. On the objection by deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek over the party being dragged into the “personal conflict” between Ong and Tiong, he said all the central committee (CC) members who attended a committee meeting last week, including Chua, had agreed to make it a “party matter”.

“They were well aware what had happened on Aug 18 and it was a unanimous decision, made after deliberations and amendments, and that included the deputy president as well, meaning I was not the one who made the statement,” he said. “It was witnessed by everybody at the central committee meeting.” On Tuesday, party secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng said that as a party, it would not like to intervene but when an accusation had been made and the MCA was linked to the RM10 million “loan”, it has to make a stand and make a clarification. Wong also said the CC at the meeting unanimously supported the call by Ong, who is also the transport minister, for a transparent investigation into the PKFZ scandal.

PKA board finds more discrepancies by R. Nadeswaran [email protected]

PETALING JAYA: More skeletons are coming out of the closet. After four independent reports from four different groups and agencies, the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) saga has taken yet another twist, another startling revelation from an hawk-eyed board member which has landed on the desks of his fellow board of directors. While time, effort and money were spent to prepare these reports, the present board of directors of Port Klang Authority (PKA) have discovered to their dismay that other projects were approved before their very noses or behind their backs, depending on which way and by whom it is viewed. While the directors have been cracking their heads as to how to get back returns from the RM90 million which had been budgeted for the four-star hotel, RM16 million was approved for a car park and other ancillary activities without their knowledge or consent. The approval was given to the developers – Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd – to build ancillary facilities to the uncompleted four-star hotel within the zone. The board has since discovered other discrepancies (since it assumed office last June) and is said to be pursuing these relentlessly and have asked the management to provide documentation for all the projects since it took office. According to those knowledgeable on the issue, work on the hotel came

to light when one of the directors noted construction was in progress at the hotel and immediately ordered the PKA staff to peruse documents related to the project. It was established that approval had been given by the previous general manager, T.S. Lim, but had not been approved by the board. (Lim resigned abruptly after the PricewaterhouseCoopers audit report was made public.) In an immediate response, Lim said he had communicated everything to the board and “everything is above board”. “It is budgeted for,” he said. “The local freight forwarding fraternity was planning to organise its annual conference and wanted the hotel to cater to their needs. Car park facilities were needed to cater to the large number of guests. Without the car park, the hotel could not be used.” This and at least two other similar approvals are being investigated by the board. PKA chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng confirmed investigations are being carried out. The hotel is part of the scandalridden PKFZ project and was said to have been built to cater to the “needs of foreigners who have to visit the area on business”. It is outside the restricted zone of the PKFZ. The cost of the hotel is yet another contentious issue as PKA’s quantity surveyors confirmed that it should only be RM54 million instead of the RM90 million claimed by the contractor.

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Pasar of delights

... One of the biggest and most well-known in the country, the Ramadan bazaar on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur teems with visitors yesterday. From Saturday, Muslims and non-Muslims alike will be spoilt for choice with various gastronomic delights available for the 30 days of Ramadan. A feature that will mark this year’s bazaars will be the flu masks, as Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail has advised traders and patrons to wear them to curb the spread of Influenza A(H1N1).

PR leaders not seeing eye to eye, says Najib PEKAN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said yesterday the lack of understanding among Pakatan Rakyat leaders was getting more obvious in states administered by the coalition. He cited the decision of Lunas state assemblyman Mohd Radzhi Salleh to quit Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and be an independent in the Kedah state assembly as the latest indication of the Pakatan leaders not seeing eye to eye on many matters. Mohd Radzhi said yesterday he was quitting PKR to become an independent after having lost confidence in the party leadership and in keeping with the decision of the Padang Serai PKR division to dissolve.

“The Kedah (Pakatan) government is still in power but the loss of an executive councillor raises many questions about the integrity of the state government,” Najib said after presenting dividends to participants of the Risda new cluster planting and commercial replanting programmes here. He was asked to comment on the decision by Mohd Radzhi to quit PKR, along with Padang Serai PKR division acting chief Jamaludin Abu Hassan and about 200 members of the division. “I have yet to see the full statement but he has made the decision to quit on his own free will without being influenced by any quarters, including Umno. We have

to respect his decision as an elected representative,” he said. Asked whether there would be allegations that Umno had orchestrated the decision, Najib said Umno could expect that but in this case it was the elected representative’s own decision to quit. “The latest case is one incidence of the lack of understanding in the Pakatan governments in only one year of administration,” he said. Asked whether the latest incident could have a positive effect on Barisan Nasional’s chances in the Permatang Pasir state byelection in Penang tomorrow, he said: “Wait and see. The people have to evaluate the matter themselves.”