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| Govt sets up task force to look into PKFZ fiasco |
| Written by Sharon Tan | |||
| Thursday, 10 September 2009 00:30 | |||
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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the cabinet meeting yesterday came to a decision on three aspects of the troubled project. “The cabinet wants a thorough investigation where truth and (being) transparent is of paramount importance in this PKFZ issue. “Firstly, whether there was abuse of power or any act that contravened the law of the land, which will be the responsibility of the police to investigate and for the attorney-general to decide (to prosecute) later,” he said at the breaking of fast at his residence. The second aspect revolves around good governance. “We want (to know) from the beginning, whether this issue is regarded as not in accordance with the principles of good governance,” said the PM. Then, there is the future of the project to consider. Najib said the project must be implemented so that the government would get maximum return for taxpayers’ money. The task force also includes Treasury Secretary-General Tan Sri Dr Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah, officials from the transport ministry, the attorney-general and other professionals. It is expected to furnish the government with a report within a certain period, and the cabinet will study the report before deciding on the subsequent course of action. Asked on the issue of misconduct, Najib said: “We will see what is said to be the misconduct, who is responsible, whether the wrong was a result of not following procedures or something that is more serious than that. We will investigate thoroughly.” He gave an assurance that an investigation will be conducted regardless of the individuals involved. Najib also stressed that the government was not taking the matter out of the transport ministry’s purview nor minimising the role of its minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat. The transport ministry would be part of the task force and the report it had prepared would also be considered by the new task force, he said. “But because this is bigger than the purview of the transport ministry, it is only appropriate that the chief secretary be tasked to chair the task force and this is to underscore the government’s seriousness in this matter,” he said. Asked if the task force would minimise the transport minister’s role in the matter, Najib replied: “No, why should I? We are together. We are in the same government. Don’t try to split.” Pressed if Ong is included in the task force, Najib said: “No representatives of the transport ministry. Don’t split, this is a government. We all stand together.” Najib said no time frame had been set for the report but that the task force was aware of the need to table the report (to cabinet) as soon as reasonably possible. The task force is expected to convene its first meeting after Hari Raya Aidilfitri. On whether the terms of reference of the task force would be published, he said: “They know. The cabinet has given them the guidelines so they know what to do.” On the suggestion that the task force was set up to complement the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation into PKFZ, he said they were separate matters. “The MACC is looking at some of the reports they have received. And the police are also looking at the reports they received. Those investigations will continue,” he assured. Meanwhile, when contacted, Port Klang Authority (PKA) chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng welcomed the appointment of the chief secretary to head the new task force. “With the chief secretary as the head, it will definitely help us to turn PKFZ around. PKFZ needs the cooperation of ministries such as finance and industry and international trade to turn around,” said Lee, adding that PKFZ would be able to get help such as tax incentives. He also hoped that the new task force would allow the PKA to proceed with its planned lawsuits against several parties embroiled in the fiasco.
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