MACC mum on PKFZ probe, PAC to carry on

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) remained tight-lipped on its probe into the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) during its meeting yesterday with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

while PAC will continue its inquiry.

MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan and its investigation director Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdul attended a closed-door meeting in parliament with PAC to answer questions on the anti-graft commission’s ongoing probe.

Met later, PAC member William Leong (Selayang-PKR) told reporters the two-hour meeting was “nothing very much” as Ahmad Said informed the parliamentary committee that MACC could not disclose information because the matter was “still under investigation”.

“Personally, I was disappointed with what I heard during the session,” Leong said, adding that MACC did not give any indication on the progress of its investigation.

While PAC was mindful not to disturb MACC’s investigations, it is the “watchdog for public funds” and is duty-bound to keep parliament and the public informed, Leong said.

“We hope MACC can carry out its investigations without fear or favour and that the culprits can be brought to book,” he said.

PAC chairman Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid, meanwhile, declined to comment on the meeting.

Leong also said MACC had the benefit of the recently released PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) audit report on the PKFZ project and several reports by the Auditor-General.

He added that MACC could also refer to the 2004 investigations by its predecessor, the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), as the facts on the project during the early probe remained largely unchanged.

PAC suggested that MACC approach PwC and the Auditor-General for their input as well as find out why Dubai-based Jebel Ali Free Zone International (Jafzi) pulled out of the project, Leong said.

He said PAC’s next meeting would discuss whether to summon former transport ministers and former Port Klang Authority (PKA) officials to testify, as advocated by several PAC members.

“There are many questions to be answered, mainly on the letters issued by the former (transport) ministers, whether you call it letters of comfort or letters of guarantee,” Leong said.

During their tenure, former Transport Ministers Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy had signed support letters for the PKFZ project.

When asked, Leong declined to specify when PAC would table its findings to parliament because the committee “did not want to be bound by time”.

Meanwhile, PAC deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw (Kepong-DAP) said the committee would meet on Tuesday to decide whether to summon Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

Tan said this was in relation to the AG’s unheeded advice that the land in Pulau Indah, where PKFZ is located, be acquired via compulsory acquisition using the Land Acquisition Act 1960.

Asked if he was satisfied with MACC’s answers, Tan said: “We cannot be satisfied with something still going on.” - The Edge