Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang wrote in his blog, here, that he had posed a question in Parliament on Monday – “Why is the government-on-the-run on the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal?”. He did not get a satisfactory answer from the Parliamentary Secretary to the Finance Ministry, who had asked that he be allowed to answer by way of written reply, but no firm date was given.
Personally, I have no quarrel with the PKFZ project if it had cost only between RM1.8 to 2 billion. But RM4.6 billion I simply cannot accept. I believe it is terribly important to hear the Attorney General's take on this sordid affair. After all, it was AG's chambers and the Treasury who had objected strongly and recommended that the land be acquired at RM10 psf instead of RM25 psf. Why they were ignored is something I am sure everyone is keen to find out. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have surely got their work cut out for them.
But we will have to wait. I believe the AG is now still in Europe trying to get back Pulau Batu Puteh from the Singaporeans.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
8 comments:
Dear Reader,
This blog promotes freedom of speech and I invite fair comment. This is not a chat room and I would appreciate if you could identify yourself. However, if you prefer to remain anonymous please note that remarks that are deemed grossly inappropriate, maliciously defamatory, extremely vulgar or ad hominem attacks (against my person) will be deleted.
Thank you for visiting and commenting.
The Ancient Mariner
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
capt., someone mentioned that Brunei has started the recalamation of their Pulau Muara Besar after a lapse of a few couples of years. Why is that? It is understood the project called for a reclamation of 10,000 acres of land twice the island's current size, and with a planned draft of 18m on a linear wharf of 5km. Are they doing this because they had concluded that our FCZ would be too expensive to compete? [ of course, BN can under-write loosing concern with our tax money]. let's wait and see the total cost for a project 10 times larger in area and with a wharf as long as westport today. What's your bet? More expensive or cheaper, after taking into consideration some local peculiarities. say 1 week of teh si ! After all, we can add 2+2, ok?
ReplyDeletein the mainstream papers, this fiasco is mentioned intermitently but its about the benefits of investments and job creation. shit, in essence the papers are justifying this fiasco. are you surprise since CKC comes from the same party which owns this particular paper.
ReplyDeleteto hell with it, after decades of support to this misnomer "THE PEOPLE's" paper, I will drop it altogether for their bullshiting. care to join me coz to me thats the only way to drill some semblence of fairness and credibility in their reporting!
The ICJ is receiving oral submissions from the Malaysian team this week regarding PBP.
ReplyDeleteSingapore had theirs last week.
Thereafter, there's supposed to be written submissions by both parties although I'm not certain whether they have to be present at the ICJ for this purpose.
Therefore, at best, the AG will appear before the PAC at the end of November.
Any more news on the people who went to Dubai, Capt?
I wonder if Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge will be awarded by the International Court of Justice (ICJ)to Malaysia or Singapore?
ReplyDeleteMariners do not care too much about the sovereignty or national ownership of these rocky features, however what is of greater importance is that Horsburg Lighthouse continues to be properly maintained, the same applies to the Radar Conspicuous Beacon (RACON), the Vessel Trafic Information and Management System (VTIMS) Control Radar, etc.
Horsburg Lighthouse is a major navigational aid and is regarded as vital for all vessels arriving and departing the Singapore Strait.
If Malaysia gets Batu Puteh let's hope that the usual half-past-six Malaysian maintenance culture is not applied to the Horsburg Lighthouse structure and equipment.
Time will tell.
latest CKC on the run. its debate time for the Ministry of Transport budget 2008. you know where's the venerable CKC. one of the favourites among the ministers. where else but London lah. this guy is real fond of disappearing act and leave his underlyings to be grilled and slaughtered over the indefensible and clearly corrupted Port Klang Free ( Fleece) Zone.
ReplyDeleteCaptain during the PKFZ crisis the Minister of Transport fled to Australia for reasons not disclosed. After that he went away for two weeks for a meeting in Canada. He came back and said briefly that PKFZ getting alot of interests but without details? Shall we ask him that with RM 4.6 bill spend how much per sg feet is he charging for the land.He then evaded questions on this matter posed by Lim Kit Siang in Parliament. He appeared with Siti Norhaliza in the hospital for a real PR exercise. Before that was the ferry accident in Mersing. He never went to Mersing. However few guys in Marine dept lost their job. Nobody in PKFZ lost their job.
ReplyDeleteIf you remember Capt there is the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952. It is absolutely outdated. The Ministry is still sleeping on this. Now Chan Kong Choy is again away for two weeks in London for IMO meeting. What for? We don't even have a proper marine legislation in place. But does CKC cares?
anon 00.25
ReplyDeletewho cares when the job is done with billions gone with a sleigth of hand. he is in london to miss the sure grilling by Lim Kit Siang. He knows he doesnt even have one leg to stand on. The IMO meeting is an escape route for him. thats typical MOST CORRUPTED ASSOCIATION way, dancing around and running away from issues, no?
anon1050
ReplyDeleteGuess who is included in the team lobbying for an IMO Council seat? The numero uno of PKFZ Datin OC Phang. This has nothing to do with her but then you have to bring your friends ma for holiday.Parliament questions on Port Klang fiasco is answered by poor deputy ministers of the Ministry of transport who do not have a clue. My suggestion is, in the absence of the minister , they are really two other members of parliament who knows and part of this scam and who certainly able to answer all questions. Azim Zabedi deputy Minister of Information and Chairman of Kuala Dimensi and Dato Ting, parliament member of Bintulu and owner of Kuala Dimensi.
In the meantime PKFZ is slowly fading away.