Aku tak curi .. kata penyamun..

tranungkite - [...] Begitulah kata Ong Tee Kiat yang mempetahankan kesucian PFKZ walaupun sudah diketahui umum berlakunya banyak penyelewengan sehinggakan syarikat dari Arab pun lari kerana tak tahan dengan banyaknya puak-puak yang minta rasuah.

Inilah untungnya jadi menteri di Malaysia. Depa boleh hukum depa bersih hanya dengankata-kata. Tak payah masuk mahkamah, tak payah disoal jawab tapi hanya cukup dengan mengatakan saya tak terlibat. Ataupun tiada penyelewengan dan saya tak buat. Seperti kata Najib dalam kes Altantuya. Bila gambarnya dikatakan pernah makan malam dengan Altantuya, Najib kata "saya tak terlibat " maka selesai kerjanya. Kalau Karpal Singh mesti akhbar Meloya kata dia tipu. Tapi kalau Najib kata, akhbar percaya selalu sebab akhbar tu pun akhbar penipu.

Mengenai PFKZ yang dikatakan tiada penyelewengan sebab mungkin semua dokumen pembelian dan sebut harga ada. Maka bila ada semua prosedur maka tee kiat kata tiada penyelewengan. Dari segi teknikalnya memang betul tapi dari segi moralnya masih boleh dipersoalkan. Apabila tanah dibeli dengan harga yang tak berpatutan maka itu menimbulkan tanda tanya bagi orang ramai. Bila timbulkan banyak tanda tanya maka itu adalah tidak bersih dan bila tidak bersih, maka adalah unsur-unsur penyelewengan.

Mari kita ambil contoh yang nyata. Apabila diaudit tentang pembelian buku yang dikatakan 1000 senaskah sedangkan dipasaran hanya 600, dan buku tersebut siap dibeli dengan ada sebutharga, ada resit dan ada tandatangan penerima dan sebagainya. Dari segi teknikal memang tiada penyelewengan tetapi dari segi moral itu adalah penyelewengan paling besar. Maskan buku yang harga 600 dijual dengan harga 1000 sedangkan pembelian tunai. Kalau pembelian pakai kredit pun masih tak munasabah.

...selanjutnya [KLIK DI SINI]

Isu Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang Hangatkan Suasana Dewan

suarakeadilan - (...) Suasana dewan yang pada mulanya sunyi menjadi hangat apabila pemimpin utama DAP itu cuba mengaitkan perbelanjaan projek pembinaan Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang dengan syarikat yang mempunyai kaitan dengan Ahli Parlimen Bintulu. Perkara ini telah menyebabkan pertikaman lidah berlaku antara Lim Kit Siang dengan Ahli Parlimen tersebut. Malah wakil BN tersebut telah mencabar Kit Siang untuk mengemukakan bukti di luar dewan. Namun Kit Siang dengan tenang menjawab bahawa beliau akan membawa hal tersebut di luar dewan jika Ahli Parlimen tersebut bersetuju untuknya berbuat demikian.

Dalam ucapannya itu juga, Kit Siang turut mempertikaikan tindakan kerajaan yang telah meluluskan peruntukkan bagi membiayai projek zon bebas tersebut. Menurut beliau lagi, seharusnya bagi meluluskan projek tersebut ia memerlukan sekurang-kurangnya 14 kali mesyuarat Kabinet sebelum ianya diluluskan. Hal ini disebabkan secara prosedurnya bagi setiap RM100 juta peruntukkan sesuatu projek memerlukan kelulusan daripada Jemaah Menteri. Namun tidak satupun mesyuarat diadakan bagi tujuan tersebut, tambah beliau lagi.
- baca selanjutnya di SINI....

House-cleaning in Port Klang

The Port Klang Authority (PKA) will undertake a house-cleaning exercise and go back to basics to what it is supposed to be – a regulatory body and safeguarding its revenue.

This is the ambitious task of its newly-appointed chairman, Datuk Lee Hwa Beng (pic).

A revamp of both the PKA and the Port Klang Free Trade Zone (PKFZ) boards is in the pipeline, and it is learnt that Westport’s Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam has tendered his resignation from the latter.

For starters, an international firm of auditors will be appointed to go through the entire accounts and activities of the PKFZ.

"But more importantly, the focus will be on getting to the bottom of how costs escalated to RM4.6 billion – far above the original RM2 billion," Lee told theSun yesterday.

He said the selection of an international firm – which he will announce at PKA’s first board meeting tomorrow – was to ensure that it was independent and free from interference while conducting its audit.

"People have no confidence in the ACA (Anti-Corruption Agency) or PAC (Public Accounts Committee), so this is the best option," he said.

Asked if wrong-doers will be named and shamed, Lee said: "I will recommend that the findings of the audit be made public and in case of impropriety, that the law takes its course. more....sun2surf ...

PKFZ: Lee Hwa Beng sekutu Ling Liong Sik

Laporan China Press: Perlantikan Lee Hwa Beng sebagai Pengerusi Port Klang Authority
dipetik: Malaysiatoday
Kepada Pengarang Mtoday,

Akhbar China Press hari ini memetik Menteri Pengangkutan, Ong Tee Kiat sebagai berkata Agong telah perkenan melantik bekas Adun Subang Jaya menjadi Pengerusi Port Klang Authority yang baru.

Mengikut laporan China Press, Menteri Pengangkutan Ong seterusnya mengarahkan Lee Hwa Beng melantik sebuah badan audit bebas untuk menyiasat akaun Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang.

Berita in amat mengemparkan dengan penglibatan Lee Hwa Beng dalam mengetuai siasatan skandal PKFZ RM4.6 billion yang dijanjikan oleh menteri pengangkutan tersebut. Lee Hwa Beng dilihat sebagai sekutu rapat bekas menteri pengangkutan Ling Liong Sik. Ini adalah satu muslihat awal yang ditunjukkan oleh Ong Tee Kiat untuk tutup sama sekali skandal RM4.6 billion tersebut. Ia juga satu strategi Menteri Pengangkutan menjelang pilihanraya parti MCA untuk dirinya bertanding jawatan timbalan ketua MCA, memandangkan pengaruh Ling Liong Sik masih amat kuat dalam parti. Baru-baru ini, Ong Tee Kiat diberi penghormatan oleh Ling Liong Sik sebagai tetamu kehormat dalam upacara Konvokesyen UTAR.

'Kejujuran Mentari Pengangkutan baru ini dalam janjinya terhadap siasatan skandal PKFZ amat diragui. YB Lim Kiat Siang dalam blognya bertarikh 11 hb. April bertajuk '“RM4.6 billion PKFZ scandal - third Transport Minister to be marred and tarred?” tepat pada ramalannya bahawa Ong Tee Kiat akan menjadi menteri pengangkutan ketiga yang disabitkan dengan skandal tersebut. Jumlah wang dalam skandal ini begitu besar untuk dikongsi sesama mereka. more...

PM beri maklum balas positif bangunkan PKFZ - Khalid

UTusanloya - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi memberi maklum balas positif kepada Kerajaan Negeri Selangor membangunkan Zon Perdagangan Bebas Pelabuhan Klang (PKFZ) dan Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (LTSAAS) di Subang.

Perkara itu dinyatakan oleh Perdana Menteri ketika menerima kunjungan hormat Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim dan dua anggota Exco kerajaan negeri, Datuk Dr. Hassan Ali dan Teresa Kok di pejabat beliau di sini pagi ini.

Menurut kenyataan Sekretariat Media Kerajaan Negeri Selangor yang dikeluarkan di sini, pada pertemuan itu Abdullah menasihati kerajaan negeri supaya menghubungi Kementerian Pengangkutan dalam membincangkan isu PKFZ serta cadangan penggunaan LTSAAS.

‘‘Beberapa langkah dibincangkan terutama berkaitan program penswastaan, PKFZ, lapangan terbang Subang dan isu pekerja asing di Selangor. more...

Uncovering the PKFZ Scandal

malaysia-today

About nine months ago, I commented several times in this column about the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal. Someone passed a message to me that he is going to sue me.

Why does he want to sue me? Yes, I said the PKFZ scandal is probably the worst scandal in the history of Malaysia. I also asked where have the taxpayers' money of RM4.6 billion gone to? Are the few desolated buildings at the remote corner of the port is all what the so-called “Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ)” is?

The early management of Port Klang Authority (PKA) has done a strange thing. PKA repurchased the 1,000 acres land from the hands of politicians and businessmen at RM 25 per square foot for a total consideration of RM 1.8 billion (inclusive of interest). The price for the original sale is RM 3 per square foot. However, the RM 1.8 billion later ballooned to RM 4.6 billion.

"The PKFZ truth might be a nuclear bomb in the political arena."

They have asked for too much and their trick is superb. Even if we burn the money, it is impossible to burn so much money in such a short period. After the project is completed, PKFZ is then managed by Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA). Very soon, JAFZA withdrew themselves from the project because of internal illnesses and deliberate spites.

In times of difficulties, the government came in to bail out PKFZ. Of course, the money will have to be paid by the taxpayers. RM4.6 billion was taken from the pockets of the people and the state treasury within the few years. What's left behind is a super big white elephant at Port Klang.

Last year, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) under the leadership of Dato Shahrir Samad, began to investigate the bailout scandal. Unfortunately, there was no news until the parliament was dissolved. Now, Shahrir joins the cabinet as minister, and probably he will not deal with this issue anymore.

Ong Tee Kiat is the Transport Minister and PKFZ is under the responsibility of his ministry. We should praise and support Ong for his commitment. Before the people ask him, he took the initiative to resolve the problem. He indicated that investigations will be carried out, and the reports will be made public.

Of course, it is a very sensitive area. There are too many political and business connections. The PKFZ truth might be a nuclear bomb in the political arena. I don't know if Ong is psychologically prepared for it.

If he conducts a thorough investigation into the scandal impartially, the people will always support him despite mountains of difficulties. How to deal with the PKFZ scandal is a major test for him and the BN government.

Abdullah swore to accelerate the reform in exchange of the people's trust. Ong's commitment needs the backing of the government to uncover the truth and to seek justice for the people. (By TAY TIAN YAN/ Translated LEE MEI NYEE/ Sin Chew Daily)

Rujuk: PKFZ - Some Unanswered Questions

Zoom in on PKFZ scandal

Sun2surf - IT IS indeed very brave of new Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat to commit himself to explaining what went wrong with the scandal-ridden Port Klang Free Zone shipping area that almost two years after it was completed it is still not attracting investors and is resembling more a ghost town than the region’s hub of choice for the export and transshipment of manufactured goods.

His predecessor, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, was hounded by the media and the opposition parties throughout his term to explain many of the allegations levelled against the RM4.6 billion project embarked on by the ministry’s Port Klang Authortiy and financed through soft loans from the government.

Chan’s attempts at explaining the various allegations, especially that of mismanagement which led to the costs ballooning from RM2.3 billion when the project started in 2004 to RM4.6 billion when it was completed, through a number of public statements did not satisfy the public.

They did not adequately explain the cost overruns, allegations of conflict of interest and dubious land deals and allegations that political interference had led to the Dubai-based Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) which had been appointed to manage and promote PKFZ pulling out from its 15-year contract. The public continued to rail against the alleged mispractices by those responsible for the Jafza-inspired project and it was fodder for the opposition parties in the recently-concluded general election.

The decision to come out with a full report on the malaise-ridden PKFZ cannot be that of the minister alone but is probably backed by the full authority of the cabinet. Why would the ministry want to re-visit an unpleasant episode unless it is prepared, in the interest of transparency and commitment to fight corruption, to take action against those responsible for mismanaging the project?

The RM2.3 billion original cost of the project is already a huge sum but when it was allowed to overrun to RM4.6 billion it is a sheer case of criminal abuse and mismanagement. In all cases of financial mismanagement of the public purse, the losers are the tax payers and they have every right to demand for a full explanation and when that was denied them they had no choice but to resort to other courses of action. More...

Ong to tell all on PKFZ

theStar - New Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat will reveal how the RM4.6bil soft loan to the Port Klang Free Zone was spent.

“I wish to inform the rakyat about the true situation – whether it was actually squandered, not squandered, and where it has gone to, as well as the breakdown of the budget,” he said.

He was responding to allegations made during the run-up to recent polls that the RM4.6bil was squandered.

“This is not to judge anyone. That’s not my motive.

“What’s important is that we are responsible for informing the public,” he said during the launch of the Routes KL 2008 campaign yesterday, which will culminate in the meeting of 2,500 international delegates from 300 airlines and 600 airports here in October to explore new airline routes.

The ministry also hoped to explain why the project was initiated, whether there would be any economic impact and the extent of the impact, he said.

Ong said that the ministry would also keep the public updated about the project status.

The response from entrepreneurs towards the project was still poor and the management has to look into the root cause and come up with plans to attract entrepreneurs to move to PKFZ, he said.

“I choose to address the issue in such a manner not because I am pressured to do so but I want to do it proactively to uphold transparency,” he said.

The cost of the PKFZ project was said to have ballooned from RM1.845bil to RM4.632bil by the time the project was completed in four years.

Late last year, then Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang claimed that the country had suffered huge losses over the project, saying that the minister had failed to provide answers in Parliament. more...

SMS isu PKFZ tidak tepat: Ong

Pihak tertentu sebar maklumat tak betul mengenai projek bernilai RM4.6 bilion?

BHarian - Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Ong Tee Keat terkilan dengan tindakan sesetengah pihak yang menyebarkan fakta tidak tepat mengenai isu Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang (PKFZ) melalui khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS).

Beliau berkata, pihaknya tidak mahu isu PKFZ dihebohkan tanpa fakta yang betul kerana ia menyebabkan masyarakat salah faham mengenai projek yang membabitkan kos RM4.6 bilion itu.

"Maklumat dalam SMS itu menggambarkan seolah-olah duit RM4.6 bilion itu sudah lesap. Saya tidak mahu masyarakat membuat andaian yang salah berdasarkan SMS yang diterima itu.

"Saya akan berusaha untuk memastikan semua isu berkaitan dengan PKFZ diselesaikan sebaik mungkin.

"Saya juga akan umumkan mengenai perjalanan projek ini kepada rakyat dalam masa terdekat supaya mereka ke mana perginya wang RM4.6 bilion itu dan mereka tidak lagi membuat andaian salah berikutan SMS itu.

"Setakat ini, taklimat awal sudah diberikan kepada saya, seterusnya saya akan meneruskan dengan kerja susulan untuk memastikan projek ini diselesaikan dengan baik," katanya.

PKFZ proposal can be considered but ...

Sun2surf
KUALA LUMPUR (mARCH 27, 2008): The Transport Ministry can study any proposal by the Selangor government on the Port Klang Free Trade Zone (PKFZ) but the scope and jurisdiction of the project must be ascertained.

Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said: "Anybody can suggest anything. If there is such a proposal, do submit it to the ministry concerned."

"In fact, we are reviewing the project and more details will be disclosed in due time,” he told reporters after the AirAsia X’s agreement signing ceremony with Airbus to buy an additional 10 A330-300 aircraft costing about US$2 billion today.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim told Malaysiakini on Tuesday that the state government was considering the viability of taking over and manage operations at the PKFZ as part of its overall revamp of troubled projects and corporations within the state.

More...

More curi duit stories: Port Klang Free Zone

Malaysiatoday

By Little Bird

Just got an SMS that goes like this: "The next 5 years will be the current group's last term. Given this scenario it will be 'pukul habis' before they leave. That's what you can expect next 5 years. Please ponder."

What this means is that all the jerung will be going all out to line their pockets because they know that one way or another their days are numbered. Badawi and his family already have homes in Perth. Patrick Badawi also has a house there. So they have a safe haven.

Just to revisit the Klang Port Free Zone issue. This white elephant has so far sucked up over RM5.0 billion of taxpayers money to bail out this 'pukul habis' project. What irks me is that few people fully realise the scale of this fiasco.

Anyone who is interested can check out the PKFZ at their web site here :
http://www.pkfz.com/content/profile/profile.html

Its worth a visit. We already have Northport and Westport on Pulau Indah. Now we have Port Klang Free Zone as well.

The story goes like this. When Ling Liong Sik was the Minister of Transport he already had set his sights on the PKFZ. It is a land scam followed by a construction scam financed by one of the largest Gomen bailouts using taxpayer's money.

The land part was done by Ling Liong Sik and cronies. They got (not bought) the land cheap between RM5.50 to RM9.00 per square foot. Folks say their total acquisition cost was about RM90.0 million ONLY (small change).

This was later sold to KPFZ for RM25 to RM28 psf. Their website says that "Port Klang Free Zone or PKFZ is an integrated 1,000-acre Free Commercial and Industrial Zone providing facilities for international cargo distribution and consolidation centre.'

An acre is over 44,000 square feet. So they sold the 1000 acres to KPFZ for about RM1.1 billion (give or take a hundred million lah, small change only). In the process they also evicted kampong folks and squatters.

So acquisition price was RM90 million, selling price was RM1.1 Billion. Encik Taxpayer you paid for this okay.

It is believed that Liong Sik and UMNO cronies made amost RM900 million clean from this first cut alone. Where do you think Zakaria Deros got the RM8.0 million to build his mansion? Helloo, wakey, wakey (bangun tidur sayang).

Then the land had to be treated, flattened and laid out. Some of the land was also tidal. It had to be reclaimed and shored up too. This cost the PKFZ another RM100 million (about RM100,000 per acre). Err, thats our money again lah.

Then came the second part of the scam - the construction contracts. By this time Chan Kong Choy had moved in as Minister of Transport. The construction of the KPFZ began. The reader should really visit the KPFZ's website and see for yourself what they have done. It is like Putrajaya. They have even divided the place up into 8 Precincts - Putrajaya style.

Included in the huge complex is a business class hotel (still empty), four blocks of 8 storey office complexes (largely empty) and 512 warehouses each of over 5000 sq ft of lettable space. That is a total of 2.6 million square feet of warehouse space alone - about three times the size of Mid Valley Megamall!

A friend told me that only 10% of these warehouses have been rented out but according to their website all the 512 warehouses are still available for rent at RM1.50 to RM2.00 per square foot. In other words this is a whiter than white, albino elephant. Tak boleh sewa.

The office complex is also available for rent at RM2.00 to RM2.50 psf. Everyone is welcome because there are no takers. White elephant.

The land and earthworks cost the KPFZ close to RM1.5 billion. The construction of all these warehouses, hotels, office complexes etc cost the remaining RM3.0 to RM4.0 Billion (give or take a Billion, whats a Billion among cronies).

The 2.6 million square feet of warehouses alone would have cost about RM200.0 million (using construction cost of RM75 per sq. ft.) to build. But I am using market rates that my contractor would charge me. These are crony contracts. No crony in his right mind would charge 'market rates'. They will charge an arm and a leg because it is you and me who are paying for this Encik Taxpayer. Remember 'pukul habis'.

Otherwise how in heaven's name can Badawi the Finance Minister and Nor Mohd Yakob the 2nd Finance Minister explain the RM4.6 Billion they authorised to bail out the KPFZ?

But here is the real mace in the face kawan-kawan: despite the RM4.6 Billion bail out the KPFZ is still empty. No one is going to rent the 512 warehouses anytime soon. No one is going to stay at the business class hotel in the middle of Pulau Indah. No one is going to open any large offices on Pulau Indah any time soon.

So where are they going to get the money to keep the place running this year, next year and the year after? What? Are those Ringgit notes I hear rustling inside your pocket Encik Taxpayer? You have more money to hand over Encik Taxpayer?