Media Statement (3) by Lim Kit Siang in Petaling Jaya on Saturday, 4^th July 2009: 

108 Questions for Ong Tee Keat on RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal – his inability to answer marks his inability to pass as Transport Minister and McA President just like Shaolin disciples who cannot pass the gauntlet of the 108 movements of Shaolin Wooden-men Lane and 18 Lohans

My three questions (No.106 to No. 108) on the 36th 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:

Question No. 1: Four days ago, Port Klang Authority (PKA) Chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng announced deferment of payment of RM660 million due to PKFZ turnkey developer Kuala Dimensi Sdn. Bhd (KDSB) from the government’s soft loan of RM4.6 billion, comprising:

(i) RM130 million payable on or before 30th June 2009 under the Sale and Purchase Agreement dated Nov. 12, 2002 between KDSB and PKA;

(ii) RM230 million payable on or before 30th June 2009 under the Development Agreement dated March 27, 2004 between KDSB and PKA;

(iii)RM150 million payable this month under the supplemental agreement for additional development works dated Nov. 30 between KDSB and PKA; and

(iv) RM150 million payable this month under the supplement agreement for new additional development works dated April 26, 2006 between KDSB and PKA.

The PKA is to pay the RM660 million to four companies which are special purpose vehicles created by KDSB and to which it had assigned the debts. The four companies created by KDSB are Special Port Vehicle Bhd, Transhipment Megahub Bhd, Valid Ventures Bhd and Free Zone Capital Bhd.

Lee announced that the RM660 million repayments would be withheld pending the review by the task force commissioned to take another look at PKFZ by 10th August 2009 and he defied KDSB to do what it wanted, including legal action against PKA.

On Thursday lunch-time, the KDSB CEO and Chairman of Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club Datuk Tiong King Sing were seen in Parliament in an intense discussion with the Second Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni bin Mohd Hanadzlah during a parliamentary briefing on the H1N1 epidemic. When DAP MPs saw them, they quickly broke up.

Only the two can tell what was intensely discussed between them. However, I understand that the outstanding RM360 million PKA payment to KDSB was paid yesterday and that the next payment of RM300 payment would be paid without any delay.

If so, this is one up for Tiong and one down for Ong.

Can Ong explain what is happening that he could lose out to Tiong in his macro and micro management of the PKFZ scandal? Is his position as Transport Minister and Lee’s position as PKA Chairman any longer tenable?

Question No. 2: Tiong has reiterated in the media today that he would not turn up even when summoned by the Public Account Committee in its inquiry into the PKFZ scandal.

This is most shocking and completely unacceptable, as there can be no reason which could justify anyone committing parliamentary contempt of not responding to a summon by the PAC – particularly coming from a Member of Parliament, and even more so, from the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers’ Club (BNBBC) Chairman.

Tiong demanded his “pound of flesh” in demanding the punishment of the five Pakatan Rakyat MPs who did not want to give testimony to the Parliamentary Select Committee inquiring into the harassment and obstruction of DAP National Chairman and MP for Gelugor, Karpal Singh in the precincts of Parliament from carrying out his parliamentary duties, as well as the punishment of three Pakatan Rakyat MPs who withdrew as members of Select Committee.

How could he justify his refusal to appear before the PAC under such circumstances. Tiong should be referred immediately to the Committee of Privileges for any such parliamentary contempt so that when Parliament meets on the first day of the budget meeting on Oct. 19, there should be a motion from the Committee of Privileges recommending the form of disciplinary action that should be taken against Tiong.

My second question to Ong is whether as MCA President and Transport Minister, he would ensure that this is done?

Furthermore, can be explain why he had allowed MCA MPs to support Tiong as BNBBC Chairman when he should know that Tiong is a highly controversial character in view of his role as KDSB CEO in the PKFZ scandal?

My third question: This is my 108th question for Ong Tee Keat on RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal and his inability to answer marks his inability to pass as Transport Minister and McA President just like Shaolin disciples who cannot pass the gauntlet of the 108 movements of Shaolin Wooden-men Lane and 18 Lohans.

He is getting MCA operatives and small fries to come to his defence but they have absolutely no credibility or are of no use whatsoever even in trying to distract public attention from the RM12.5 billion PKFZ “scandal of all scandals”.

Ong should have realized that there is no way for him to run away from his Ministerial responsibility to give a full and proper accounting of the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal – as demonstrated by the failure of his escape to the Paris Air Show from the opening of Parliament to completely shirk responsibility from the PKFZ scandal.

I have been informed that Ong tried to go abroad on Tuesday and was stopped by the Prime Minister. Is this true?

However, what is important is whether Ong will sit down to give a detailed question-by-question answer to my 108 questions on the PKFZ scandal.

I will take a three-day break from the 36-day “three questions a day” session and 108 questions to decide whether to continue with the daily questioning on the PKFZ scandal, and if so, in what new form.

*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor