Stunned PAC chief: We never saw him as a culprit

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - Free Malaysia Today,

KUALA LUMPUR: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Azmi Khalid said that former transport minister Dr Ling Liong Sik, who was charged over his role in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal today, was never identified as a culprit by the committee.

"It is unfortunate to hear this. I am quite surprised. We never identified him (as a perpetrator). We just called him for clarification," he told FMT in an immediate reaction to the news.

The 67-year-old medical doctor-turned-politician pleaded not guilty to two charges under Section 417 and 418 of the Penal Code for cheating.

The PKFZ project was introduced during his tenure as transport minister and the cost of the project, initially estimated at less than RM2 billion, ballooned to RM4.6 billion by 2007.

Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin then set bail at RM1 million and mention was fixed for Sept 3.

Legal action against Ling, the former MCA president, could have negative implications on the second biggest component party in Barisan Nasional which is struggling to regain lost Chinese support.

Opposition leaders, particularly DAP's Lim Kit Siang, have long called for a probe on Ling but the authorities have been slow to react.
PAC, which probed the PKFZ scandal, had summoned Ling to facilitate investigations.
'Mother of all scandals'

Azmi said the former MCA supremo, who issued the support letters instructing the PKFZ project to be given to turnkey contractor KDSB Sdn Bhd, was never considered a culprit.

"It is unfortunate that (Ling has been charged)... he is my senior colleague," said the former minister.

"Whatever it is, the prosecution is the result of police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation," he added.

Azmi, PAC, the MACC and the police have been under severe pressure to net the "big fish" involved in what is considered by opposition leaders as the "mother of all scandals".

Charging Ling would help neutralise the accusations that Najib's administration lacked the political will to arrest influential figures involved in corruption.