My three questions (No.103 to No. 105) on the 35th day in the current series to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat on the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal today are:
First Question. On Wednesday, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) decided to summon Barisan Nasional big-wigs like the two former Transport Ministers, Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik and Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, and the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) Chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing to testify in its inquiry into the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal.
We read in the press today the announcement by Tiong, who is also the CEO of Kuala Dimensi Sdn. Bhd (KDSB), the turkey developer for PKFZ that he would not attend the PAC inquiry to give any testimony.
This is a most extraordinary turn of events. Yesterday, Parliament just bulldozed through the report of the Parliamentary Select Committee set up to investigate into the intimidation and obstruction of DAP National Chairman and MP for Bukit Gelugor, Karpal Singh from carrying out his parliamentary duties in the parliamentary precincts on February 26 by Umno Youth leaders but which went outside its terms of reference to recommend the punishment of Karpal, myself and six other Pakatan Rakyat MPs for not attending or participating in the Select Committee’s inquiry.
Tiong was a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee and from the verbatim record of its proceedings, particularly its meeting of 18th March 2009, Tiong was very insistent in demanding that Karpal, myself and the other six PR MPs should be punished although we had committed no wrongdoing and when such a matter was completely outside the scope, reference and jurisdiction of the Select Committee.
By Tiong’s own demands, Tiong is committed a serious offence and contempt of Parliament not only in refusing to appear before the PAC, but in announcing that he would not co-operate with the PAC, using the excuse that KDSB is instituting legal action against Port Klang Authority (PKA) on the PKFZ scandal.
Tiong arrogantly and insolently said that the PAC should talk to his lawyers instead of wanting him to appear before the PAC.
My first question to Ong is whether he agrees and approves of Tiong’s attitude or he thinks that Tiong should not only appear before the PAC and give his full co-operation as KDSB CEO but that the time has come for Tiong to relinquish his post as BNBBC Chairman so that BN MPs are not compromised in the PKFZ scandal by taking a stand blindly supporting Tiong because he is BNBBC Chairman.
Questions No. 2: Ong has responded differently from Tiong to the PAC summons, saying that he will co-operate if he is called up by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to give his statement on the PKFZ scandal.
Is he prepared to submit to the PAC all the Cabinet decisions, minutes and papers on the PKFZ scandal right from the start of the ill-fated PKFZ project?
If there is any problem with the Official Secrets Act, is he prepared to get Cabinet approval to declassify all Cabinet minutes, papers and all other official memorandum on the PKFZ, whether from the Finance Ministry, Economic Planning Unit, Attorney-General’s Chambers or the Transport Ministry so that all Cabinet and official papers are submitted to the PAC for a full “tell all” probe into the PKFZ scandal?
Question No. 3: Ong’s “So near and yet so far” charade of the 300 copies of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) audit report and appendices into the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal.
For three weeks, the 300 copies of the PcW report and appendices in PKFZ scandal had been kept under “lock and key” to collect dust in the vaults of Parliament although they were allegedly meant for all MPs – and they are to be kept away from any “sight and sound” of MPs for the next three to six months, if not longer.
Ong blames the Parliament Secretary Datuk Roosme binti Hamzah for not releasing the PwC report and appendices on PKFZ to all MPs.
How cowardly and unchivalrous to pass the buck and blame a parliamentary officer, who is the first woman in the nation’s history to become Parliament Secretary, when it is the Transport Minister who must bear the full blame for the “So near and yet so far” charade over the 300 copies of the PwC report and appendices on PKFZ which are withheld from immediate release to all MPs.
Surely, the 14 PAC members do not need 300 sets of the PwC report and appendices!
My third question to Ong is what has he got to hide in the PwC appendices into PKFZ, that even now PAC members cannot take them home to study?
Is there something in the three-and-a-half inch high appendices which, on very close scrutiny and study, can throw a new light on how a RM1.088 PKFZ scandal in 2002 under Liong Sik as Transport Minister could quadruple to RM4.6 billion under Kong Choy in 2007 and now again double to RM7.453 billion and may even be as astronomical as RM12.453 billion?
In the past three days, One’s lieutenants in MCA have been singing his praises as the only Minister who wants to “tell all” about the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal.
If so, can Ong really explain why he is behind the “so near and yet so far” charade of sending the 300 copies of the PwC report and appendices to Parliament but not to put into the hands of the BN and PR MPs?
I like your description of Tiong as the “turkey developer”. Pun absolutely intended.
Says he wants to tell all….but wait, the “tell all’ only refers to PKA. Doesn’t include the Fishermen’s Cooperative, doesn’t include the turkey developer, doesn’t include the other ministries.
All the time, the “tell all” refers to the present and the future, don’t worry about the past. This is a half-past six minister.
OKT to “tell all”?
As in Chua SL who “showed all” including his warts in the video?
Yes Tiong appears double standards in demanding Karpal, yourself and the other six PR MPs attend Parliamentary Select Committee Inquiry (PSCI) and he himself refuses to now attend.
Customs Director-General Datuk Abdul Rahman Abdul Hamid appeared before the PSCI to explain alleged questionable practices involving in the auctioning of confiscated luxury cars in July 2006 – but wasn’t it on voluntary basis???
The basic question, the answer to which we’re not clear, is whether non attendance or refusal to attend PSCI is punishable as contempt of parliament!
What’s the real position on this? We remember Nazri had objected to the PSCI calling the then Director-General of Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) Datuk Seri Zulkipli Mat Noor to appear before the Select Committee PSCI.
Then the NRD also refused to appear before the PSCI – a move which Nazri had also supported.
Is Tiong really punishable for contempt of parliament if he refuses to attend? Will it make a difference if Minister in charge of parliament gives him the Ok not to attend? NRD and ACA personnel are not parliamentarians. Tiong is. Does this difference of status make it different for Tiong?
Otk should answer your question first, ie regarding the rm1.2 b variation order, is it true that LKP in 2008 only forwarded their proposal to the Minister otk for a DECISION?
why is lks still asking questions?? his constituents didn’t send him to parliament to ask questions. we sent him to get answers.
Just a maximum fine of RM1,000.00 only. Sub, sub water lah, “tai loh” can pay lah. BNBBC Chairman or “tai loh” appearing before PAC, no face lah.
//his constituents didn’t send him to parliament to ask questions. we sent him to get answers.// dumb
Now this is mega dumb in action. Only the dumb can get answer without question, my goodness, master dumb, mega dumb, dumb dumb, dumbo, big ass dumb.
Also declassified all Petronas documents known only to PM (if any seen?) where much much more public fund and national wealth have disappeared both on records and off records.
Dear friends,
This article below is just side shows to justify guilt of the illegal leaders since 1976 after the double 6 tragedy in Sabah. Almost every illegal socalled leaders had a hand in this ill gotten gain in what is found in Petronas. I have dwelled in this in Police Reports and my twin milestone High Court cases on the GE 2004 and GE 2008, and yet nothing is done about this massive day light robbery allowed by the Federal Constitution which happens to be the god of the nation but a changing god all the times according to the whims and fancies of the illegal leaders since 1981. Almost all the General Elections (Parliament and States) had been rigged and confirmed in GE 2004 and GE 2008 beyond doubt. So all illegal leaders are only good to swindle the national resources and wealth in what is now today a profligacy of RM30 trillions and it is worsening by the day although economic scenario is also worsening with deficits increasing, FDI declined and the assets of Bank Negara M’sia disappearing fast especially in the last twelve months after another daylight robbery of US$50 billions as alleged during the 5th PM as guaranteed by BNM.
The proofs are all there as I had posted several times including those 27 Police Reports of Joshua Kong.
Joshua Kong
Dr M raises questions how RM253.b from Petronas was spent
http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/23888/84/
Friday, 03 July 2009 16:38
Written by Lam Jian Wyn, The Edge
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has raised questions over how the RM253.6 billion, which the federal government had received from Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) over the past six years, were spent.
The fourth Malaysian Prime Minister said in his blog chedet.co.cc on July 3 that the national oil company had been paying out in dividends since 1976 and that year, the government received RM300 million.
The amount increased to RM2 billion in 1981. By 2003, it paid RM15.6 billion to the Federal Government. The total from 1981 to 2003 was RM168.8 billion in 22 years.
“From then onwards it increased from RM19 billion in 2004 to RM67.8 billion in 2009. The total for six years is RM253.6 billion.
“I am sure the Government had spent the money wisely. It would be interesting to know what the RM253.6 billion was spent on,” he said.
Dr Mahathir stepped down as PM in 2003 and his deputy, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as PM until early 2009.
Dr Mahathir remarks were related to a June 25 announcement by Petronas that it had paid RM30 billion in dividends to the federal government for the financial year ended March 31, 2009. This was despite a 14% decline in net profit to RM52.5 billion due to lower crude oil prices and higher operating costs.
The RM30-billion payout included a special dividend of RM6 billion which was declared in the last calendar year. In FY08, Petronas paid out RM24 billion.
Apart from the dividends, Petronas also paid RM29.4 billion taxes, RM6.2 billion royalties and RM2.2 billion export duties in FY09. In total, Petronas contributed RM67.8 billion to the federal government, compared with RM56.8 billion in FY08.
pw:nation’s viewed
http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2009/07/02/pac-decision-to-summon-liong-sik-kong-choy-attorney-general-to-testify-on-
rm12-5-billion-pkfz-scandal-lauded-though-belated/
PAC is responsible to the Parliament, therefore, as mentioned above, PAC should sort out what had been asked by the MP and Summon OTK to prepare answer to a list of questions. Meaning OTK should come with a Written Report (with relevant documents) and explain during the sessions. It should not be a Mouth to Nose Talk!! This also ensure what had been asked by the MP will not be missed out.
DOES PARLIAMENT OR PAC HAS A PROPER HEARING PROCEDURES?