Thesun 2009-09-10 Page10 For Whom The Bell Tolls
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theSun
INTERVIEWS VIEWS
Ong: Well, I see our two investigative journalists are here! theSun: This is the longest story we have been pursuing … six years. Ong: Well, at the end of the day, we are interested in the ending. How this is going to culminate. That is very important. theSun: That depends on all those concerned in seeing that justice is done. theSun: There are other abuses not related to the free zone that are being uncovered. Shouldn’t the task force be looking into other abuses not related to PKFZ? You must understand that the task force is focusing on only the 20 over issues regarding the free zone. I am not quite sure if the other abuses are included in its investigations. Because you have uncovered so many issues on the conduct of the general manager (Datin Paduka O.C. Phang) with regards to PKFZ, doesn’t it warrant an internal inquiry at least on the other affairs of PKA (Port Klang Authority)? The task force reports state that she refused to heed the advice of other officials. She could have taken such an attitude to other matters. I get what you mean but we need to stay focused. I understand your concerns that certain dimensions of the investigation may be overlooked or neglected or some of these jokers may go scot-free. But the crux of the matter is that we have come so far and we want to see justice
| THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10 2009
Conversation
For whom the bell tolls EMBATTLED MCA PRESIDENT AND TRANSPORT MINISTER DATUK SERI ONG TEE KEAT TAKES TIME OFF PARTY POLITICS AND THE PORT KLANG FREE ZONE (PKFZ) PROBE TO TELL R. NADESWARAN AND TERENCE FERNANDEZ THAT THE TWO ISSUES ARE INDEED RELATED. done. This is the last lap and the last lap is normally the most challenging part. Do you support the suggestion that the previous board of directors must be held responsible and be prosecuted for failing in their responsibilities? They have their jurisdiction of responsibilities but I am not certain of the extent in which they were involved in. Were they properly informed of each and every decision? If not, what remedial solutions did they attempt to take? I have no knowledge of this, but accountability must be there. I agree. Whether they should be charged, I cannot answer that as I don’t know to what extent is their involvement. What about the past chairmen? At the end of the day they are guardians of PKA and should be held accountable for allowing this to go so far.
So far, how much have they (the past chairmen) been informed? Look at (Datuk Yap) Pian Hon for instance. He had 1,001 reasons to protest, 1,001 grouses to air. In all fairness, he was brushed aside probably because she thought that he did not have the intellectual capacity to grasp the issues. That’s why we need people who know what’s going on. (Present chairman) Datuk Lee Hwa Beng is an accountant by training, so he will know when the numbers don’t add up. Members of the (internal audit) directors include a forklift driver with minimal education. What does he know about port operations? They just come to collect their allowance. Enough of all these political appointees! We hope this episode will have a positive ending but what is even more challenging is the subsequent part. We must get people who at least know something
The crux of the matter is that we have come so far and we want to see justice done. This is the last lap and the last lap is normally the most challenging part.”
about the subject matter. You might be a political appointee, but at least be well-versed with the subject matter. How do we reconcile what you intend to do for the restructuring of PKA and the political realties? We need to set new rules and that is going to be very unpopular but after all, I have been unpopular. How we handle PKFZ must be the yardstick for future probes. So it is important to see this to the very end. You mean use the PKFZ investigations as a template for future probes involving misuse of public funds? Yes! I explained in no uncertain terms to my grassroots behind closed doors why I must take the risk and what gains do I get. Nothing! In fact CSL (sacked MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek) said I want to play hero. What hero? As an ethnic Chinese minister, as MCA president can I go further to a higher rank? But I said that PKFZ should be made a turning point if we really want to bring in a new breed of political culture – of accountability and transparency. We don’t just talk, we must walk the talk and this is a classic example, a real acid test to our commitment to accountability and transparency. You have the unenviable task of exposing two past MCA leaders, your predecessors in the ministry (Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy). It must have been
theSun
INTERVIEWS VIEWS
Ong: Well, I see our two investigative journalists are here! theSun: This is the longest story we have been pursuing … six years. Ong: Well, at the end of the day, we are interested in the ending. How this is going to culminate. That is very important. theSun: That depends on all those concerned in seeing that justice is done. theSun: There are other abuses not related to the free zone that are being uncovered. Shouldn’t the task force be looking into other abuses not related to PKFZ? You must understand that the task force is focusing on only the 20 over issues regarding the free zone. I am not quite sure if the other abuses are included in its investigations. Because you have uncovered so many issues on the conduct of the general manager (Datin Paduka O.C. Phang) with regards to PKFZ, doesn’t it warrant an internal inquiry at least on the other affairs of PKA (Port Klang Authority)? The task force reports state that she refused to heed the advice of other officials. She could have taken such an attitude to other matters. I get what you mean but we need to stay focused. I understand your concerns that certain dimensions of the investigation may be overlooked or neglected or some of these jokers may go scot-free. But the crux of the matter is that we have come so far and we want to see justice
| THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10 2009
Conversation
For whom the bell tolls EMBATTLED MCA PRESIDENT AND TRANSPORT MINISTER DATUK SERI ONG TEE KEAT TAKES TIME OFF PARTY POLITICS AND THE PORT KLANG FREE ZONE (PKFZ) PROBE TO TELL R. NADESWARAN AND TERENCE FERNANDEZ THAT THE TWO ISSUES ARE INDEED RELATED. done. This is the last lap and the last lap is normally the most challenging part. Do you support the suggestion that the previous board of directors must be held responsible and be prosecuted for failing in their responsibilities? They have their jurisdiction of responsibilities but I am not certain of the extent in which they were involved in. Were they properly informed of each and every decision? If not, what remedial solutions did they attempt to take? I have no knowledge of this, but accountability must be there. I agree. Whether they should be charged, I cannot answer that as I don’t know to what extent is their involvement. What about the past chairmen? At the end of the day they are guardians of PKA and should be held accountable for allowing this to go so far.
So far, how much have they (the past chairmen) been informed? Look at (Datuk Yap) Pian Hon for instance. He had 1,001 reasons to protest, 1,001 grouses to air. In all fairness, he was brushed aside probably because she thought that he did not have the intellectual capacity to grasp the issues. That’s why we need people who know what’s going on. (Present chairman) Datuk Lee Hwa Beng is an accountant by training, so he will know when the numbers don’t add up. Members of the (internal audit) directors include a forklift driver with minimal education. What does he know about port operations? They just come to collect their allowance. Enough of all these political appointees! We hope this episode will have a positive ending but what is even more challenging is the subsequent part. We must get people who at least know something
The crux of the matter is that we have come so far and we want to see justice done. This is the last lap and the last lap is normally the most challenging part.”
about the subject matter. You might be a political appointee, but at least be well-versed with the subject matter. How do we reconcile what you intend to do for the restructuring of PKA and the political realties? We need to set new rules and that is going to be very unpopular but after all, I have been unpopular. How we handle PKFZ must be the yardstick for future probes. So it is important to see this to the very end. You mean use the PKFZ investigations as a template for future probes involving misuse of public funds? Yes! I explained in no uncertain terms to my grassroots behind closed doors why I must take the risk and what gains do I get. Nothing! In fact CSL (sacked MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek) said I want to play hero. What hero? As an ethnic Chinese minister, as MCA president can I go further to a higher rank? But I said that PKFZ should be made a turning point if we really want to bring in a new breed of political culture – of accountability and transparency. We don’t just talk, we must walk the talk and this is a classic example, a real acid test to our commitment to accountability and transparency. You have the unenviable task of exposing two past MCA leaders, your predecessors in the ministry (Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy). It must have been
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