KUALA LUMPUR, 27 May 2009: The cabinet has given its approval for the for the audit report on the Port Klang Free Zone by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to be released in its entirety as soon as possible, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat announced today.
Ong, who is also MCA President, said he has “now directed the Port Klang Authority (PKA) to do so as soon as possible, once everything is in order.”
“We have a lot of work to do make sure that the findings of the report are acted upon and the interests of the people protected,” he said in a posting on his blog www.ongteekeat.net today.
In an immediate response, PKA chairperson Datuk Lee Hwa Beng told Bernama when contacted today that the report would be released in full at a press conference scheduled at 3.30pm tomorrow at the PKA office.
“I will releas the report in full. The media can get the copy after that. The details of the report will be released at the press conference,” he said.
Ong said that the cabinet, which met today, deliberated on the PKFZ for the third time. I have finally obtained the greenlight for the report to be released in its entirety.
“I am very glad that the Prime Minister and my cabinet colleagues share my aspirations that our government should be transparent and directly deal with the issues of the day.”
“Sweeping problems under the carpet is not an option,” he said.
He said the PKFZ issue has been played up by the opposition for a few years and they have used it as their political capital.
“We now have to disappoint them by proving to the public that the new administration under our Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) has nothing to hide and is prepared to reveal the truth as well as to take appropriate action should there be any wrongdoing.”
Ong said: “I have advocated since April last year that the public should know the truth. It has been a long journey for me personally. It is one that is fraught with challenges and hurdles both from within and without.”
The audit report was initially set release on 6 May but hit a snag as it was revealed that the independent directors of PwC had conditions attached to their report, which was the need for an indemnity letter from PKA.
Following that, PKA sought legal advice and an indemnity letter was later issued to PwC.
The 405-hectare PKFZ transshipment hub, which has warehouses, office blocks and a four-star hotel, has been dogged by controversy after it was revealed that its original development cost had ballooned from less than RM2.5 billion to RM4.6 billion, and some claim, up to RM12 billion. — Bernama
PM says
Hope this will not end like like the BMF and Perwaja Steel scandals where there was no intent whatsoever to go after the culprits, and the trials eventually became a hogwash, at taxpayers’ expense.