MACC Chief plays coy and frustrate PAC probe into PKFZ

By Neville Spykerman

Taken from The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23- Tempers flared today during the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry into the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal when the head of the anti-graft agency refused to answer most questions thrown at him over its ongoing probe.

PAC Stonewalled

The Malaysian Insider understands Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan had stonewalled the bipartisan parliamentary committee by repeatedly citing legal provisions which he said prevented him from giving specific answers to questions from the lawmakers.

According to sources, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief’s stance frustrated Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua to such an extent that he lost his cool and shouted at the government officer, accusing him of being in contempt of Parliament.

Double Standard

Pua also accused the MACC chief of double standards, citing Ahmad Said’s eagerness recently to make public statements about an ongoing investigations for alleged graft against Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

Ahmad Said remained silent and refused to respond to the accusations.

When asked about previous reports on corruption and abuse of power lodged in relation to PKFZ in 2004, Ahmad Said said the old files had all been closed because it was concluded that there was no wrongdoing.

Financial Guarantees

These included reports alleging a former transport minister had provided financial guarantees from the government for the project when he was not authorised to do so.

Asked if he still stood by the findings of the earlier investigation, Ahmad Said said he could not comment because the matter was still being investigated.

Witness

Ahmad Said also refused to disclose the identities of the 15 witness called so far by the MACC to assist in the probe.

He said the MACC would take up to six months to complete the probe.

MACC’s Investigation

The PAC was supposed be briefed last week on the MACC’s investigation into how PKFZ’s initial cost of nearly RM2 billion could rise to RM12.5 billion because of various discrepancies.

However the PAC inquiry was delayed when Ahmad Said failed to appear before the committee, sending MACC investigation director Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdul instead.

When contacted after the session, Pua refused to comment on what had transpired, saying only “Wait for the report”.

Briefing reporters later, PAC deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw said the committee was briefed on the land acquisition for PKFZ as well as the letters on guarantees provided by a minister.

When asked if the committee was satisfied with Ahmad Said’s explanation, Dr Tan said it was not a matter of being satisfied as the inquiry was an ongoing process.

He said the committee would meet again next Tuesday to decide if the Attorney-General (AG) should be called to the inquiry.

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June 24, 2009 · Filed Under General

Comments

18 Responses to “MACC Chief plays coy and frustrate PAC probe into PKFZ”

Mike Tan on June 24th, 2009 9:57 am

Mark my words that at the end of the day,no BN politicians will be found liable and punished for the fiasco.This is how things were and going to be as everyone has his own baggage and don’t wish to be dragged into the mess.Remember the Lingam’s probe?
leekh on June 24th, 2009 11:11 am

Corruption cannot happen without the connivance of the civil service. A mistaken sense of loyalty to one’s race has led to closing of one eye to inefficiency, lack of performance, undermining others and massive corruption in every branch of public administration from the lowest level right to the Secretary Generals. The head of MAAC is no different. Malaysia is a basket case.
dayakrambo on June 24th, 2009 11:16 am

the ball and game plan in their (bn) hands for now,unless we change the federal goverment, let PR rule msia we will make this people sweat and sleepless nite..GOD Bless
Papung Engkilu on June 24th, 2009 2:00 pm

Dear Visitors,

Following the announcement of the PKR Sarawak State Committee, we have receive numerous request to carry a Poll to determine who should continue to lead PKR.

Currently PKR Sarawak State is under the leadership En Mustaffa Kamil Ayub assisted by various committee and three advisors (excluding Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim).

PKR State Committee & Leadership.

To enable us the gauge the feelings of other PKR Members and Supporters, we appreciate if you could have your say by casting your Vote at the Poll located at the sidebar.

If you feel none of them qualify, just “Tick” at the appropriate questionaire and it would as usual be counted as a Vote.

——————————————–

Be informed I ve voted Dr. John Brian to head the State PKR. How about you?
changop4540 on June 24th, 2009 2:15 pm

VOTE FOR DAYAKBARU Dr. John Brian as PKR State Liasion Chief and PKR candidate for Kemana in the forthcoming State Election.
dayakrambo on June 24th, 2009 2:55 pm

we will vote for JBA, but surely not cungap2..who was try to denied the fact..purely BN brand
Aki jos on June 24th, 2009 4:31 pm

yes, I totally agree , vote for Dr.John Barin as PKR leader
Dayak Undead on June 24th, 2009 5:16 pm

Go ahead Papung Engkilu, Changop fake yourself. Since your no-brainer stupidity is almost self-explainatory, just repeat this word if you’re not stupid: I’m a stupid FOOL!

Again, repeat this word if you’re not stupid: I’m a stupid FOOL!
changop4540 on June 24th, 2009 5:45 pm

Dayak Undead,

I am telling the truth so that you and the rest of the Dayak will not be fool by Anwar sweet talk. Anwar will never want Dayak to be a chief minister, the talk is just a political gimmick.
Sempurai on June 25th, 2009 7:13 am

Just ignore Changop. Let him talks high and low. After all he is only Changop, nothing else.
Dayak Undead on June 25th, 2009 10:12 am

So you changop4540 hate Anwar for such a fake spoof? You scared of fake spoof yeah. Since you’re scared of fake spoof then how about this fake spoof: politics of development is politicised development. Are you stupid or what?

Now repeat this word if you’re not a stupid: I’m a stupid FOOL!
Iban Abroad on June 25th, 2009 11:16 am

Selukai Kampung,

PBB already deny Dayak as CM, UMNO already deny Dayak as CM, Tun Razak, Najib Father was pull Kalong out from CM office.

Mohathir, Pak Lah, Najib and Taib are all deny Dayak to be CM of Sarawak what to say about promise to give Dayak a chance become CM.

Only person we hear and promise to give chance to Dayak as a CM of Sarawak is Anwar at the moment. If we cannot get it at least we have a promise, rather than deny.

Changop ingat ka ensumar nuan tu. Manah agi nama nuan tukai enggau Selukai Kampung.
changop4540 on June 25th, 2009 11:57 am

Hi IB,

Those of you who felt so bad since your dream will not come through. Read this words of comfort sent by a friend of mind so that you will be still thankful to live an ordinary lives.

1) If you find yourself stuck in traffic, don’t despair.There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.

2)Should you have a bad day at work, think of the man who has been out of job for years.

3)Should you despair over relationship gone bad, think of the person who never know what it is like to love and be loved in return.

4)Should you grieved the passing of another weekend, think of the women in dire straits working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.

5)Should your car break down leaving you miles away from assistance, think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.

6) Should you find yourself in lost and pondering what live is all about,asking what is my purpose?Be thankful.There are those who didn’t live long enough to get the oppurtunity. and so on.

So be thankful to live in the bless land of Malaysia as you cannot buy goods, foods that are much lower than the country we live in. As you are outside the country you know what i mean.
Banting on June 25th, 2009 2:03 pm

MACC must carry out its duties in a professional manner, without fear or favour, investigate every report big or small and complete investigation on time frame. They must be consistency in their action, transparency and independent, not taking sides, otherwise the pubblic will accuse them of double standard and pro-government. FULLSTOP!!
Keruak Tau Tepang on June 26th, 2009 10:40 am

Bah! Lama amat enda ninga penemu ari Unggal kitai SAW atau Iong deh! Kati bisi ngena nama pelesu bukai iya kini, baka aku?
Iban Abroad on June 26th, 2009 11:17 am

Changop,

Blog tu nemu nuan udah kena upah Taib, Jabu, Masing, George Chan tauka Najib kena ngachau blog tu. Kena ngamahka blog tu. Laban sida sigi begeledik ati ninga intelectual Iban berunding ngadu ka Dayak ngena chara betul ba blog tu enggai ka sida nadai penguntung ka diri empu. Agi ga blog tu semakin lama semakin papular.

Tang taja pia, tuai rumah meri nuan peluang belama nyadi pengachau ditu, laban free media policy enda nitih ka penemu BN ke tau mansut ka penemu sida aja.

Ukai nuan ke ka ngachau tauka nyebut utai ke nadai guna tang bala sida ari BN ke ngasuh tang nuan nyadi uduk sida. Penemu sida tu meh ka agi ngasuh bala ari BN berani agi mantai ka pengenyai sida Taib, Najib ke dikeringka nuan.

Aku enda nemu nuan oleh bediscipline tauka enda tang ke temu aku orang baka nuan sigi nadai runding bukai kelinpah ari mikir ka perut diri empu ke penuh.
Dayak Undead on June 26th, 2009 4:53 pm

Reload: All guns ablaze over PKFZ again
Mkini Jun 24 2009, 09 6:45pm

Just days ago, a vexed transport minister had accused him of going berserk over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) imbroglio.

Today, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang’s guns blazed once again. And coming under a hail of bullets was Backbenchers Club chairperson and Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing.

“He has vested interest… can we allow people to hold (Parliament) to ransom… is this is not ’samseng’ (thug-like),” the Ipoh Timor MP fired away.

“Why for two years the Parliament and the country were misled… don’t be afraid, truth hurts,” he added.

Lim had raised the alleged discrepancy pertaining to the ballooned development cost of PKFZ when debating a motion by the Finance Ministry with regards to the Supply Act 2009.

Tiong controls Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) – the developer of the industrial zone. KDSB was also the company that sold the land to the Port Klang Authority (PKA) for the project.

According to Lim, former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik and the party’s previous deputy president Chan Kong Choy had issued four letters of support to KDSB, allowing it to raise RM4 billion in bonds.

‘Bring it outside’

Firing back, Tiong challenged Lim to a duel outside the Dewan Rakyat where the opposition leader cannot seek shelter behind parliamentary immunity.

“What truth hurts! Take it outside!” he thundered, knocking his microphone over as Lim was in the midst of his verbal salvo.

The shouting match cascaded into an hour-long pandemonium which witnessed a visibly angered Tiong repeatedly challenging Lim to step outside.

“Go out and say that I have the RM12.5 billion,” he yelled, to which Lim, adding salt to injury, replied: “RM12.5 billion may not be a big amount for some, (but) a gold mine for others.”

Speaking to reporters later, Lim trained his crosshairs on the Finance Ministry, asking how it was unaware of the RM4 billion bonds in the market.

“Of course they don’t know… the letters (were) issued without approval or knowledge of the ministry,” he said, adding that the ministry only learned about the matter in December 2006 when informed by the persons who had the bonds.

“Awang Adek (Husin) was deputy finance minister at the time, was he sleeping? I want a full account of how the country got into this mess,” demanded Lim, who is determined to get to the bottom of the PKFZ debacle.

Launching his final onslaught for the day, he lambasted the government for allegedly deceiving the people for two years after the bailout.
tudip@too deep on June 26th, 2009 8:48 pm

Changop 4540
Be thankful……

To continue of what changop4540 is saying….Be thankful when someone at high places robbed peoples’ money (PKFZ scandal).

Be thankful when all NCR land are classified as state land.

Be thankful when your children fail to get tertiary education even if they are bright student.

Be thankful when you eat rice with salt.

Be thankful when someone get into your house and rob you.

Be thankful when your daughter get raped.

Be thankful when your civility and morality get raped.

Be thankful when all the dayaks stoned you to death.

What an insult to human race.
The politics of fear is not the game of the day anymore.

Dayaks are no more stupid.

Kick the fella who cheat you.