KUALA LUMPUR: Former transport minister Dr Ling Liong Sik “can rest easy” knowing that he can counter the allegations that he deceived the Cabinet in relation to the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal, according to PKR supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim.
"When I read the accusation against Ling, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It’s probably the first time in the world that an ex-minister has been slammed with such an accusation. But in Malaysia, everything boleh," Zaid wrote in his blog.
Last Friday, Ling was charged in the Sessions Court under Sections 417 and 418 of the Penal Code in connection with the PKFZ scandal, which carries a jail term upon conviction.
According to the charge sheet, Ling had, in 2002, misled the Cabinet into agreeing to purchase 999.5 acres of land on Pulau Indah for a project, now known as PKFZ, at a price of RM25psf on a deferred payment basis for a 15-year period, at a 7.5% interest rate.
The cumulative interest paid would total RM720 million at the end of the repayment period. He was also slapped with an alternative charge, under Section 417 of the Penal Code, for the same offence.
While the prosecution is out to prove that Ling did not inform the Cabinet that the price included interest of 7.5% every year for the 15-year monthly instalment based on deferred payment, Zaid is of the view that Ling has all the facts in place to defend himself.
"Truth is Ling knows exactly how to counter these accusations easily. That’s the reason why he looked relax and was caught smiling," he said, adding that what upsets him most is how the government is playing around with millions of ringgit of the rakyat’s money with this scandal.
Explain the exhorbitant figure
Speaking his mind, Zaid listed out several “easy” questions which he wants Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin to answer.
"My first question is: This project was approved under Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration in 2002 in the belief that it would rake in huge profits without the government’s support or expenditure. It would be self-financing. But the scenario existing today is that the project has become a burden to the people at costs reaching RM12 billion. How did the numbers reach RM12 billion? How did we get to this situation?
"Second: The Cabinet had initially asked to take over the 1,000 acres of land through the 1960 Land Acquisition Act at the cost of RM10.16psf. Was it right for the land then to be bought at RM25psf, far exceeding the open market price, including caveat and deposits?
"Third: The letters of support from Ling and former deputy MCA president Chan Kong Choy for the Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) contractors was issued without permission or approval of the finance ministry. The attorney-general himself did not overlook this fact.
"Why did the Cabinet offer a retrospective approval, and approve the cost and project expenses which have now ballooned to RM4.6 billion?
"And if all these discrepancies, legal violations and cost overruns were sanctioned and approval given, why is the actual cost of the land still not known?" asked Zaid.
Explaining further, he said it was not possible for the Cabinet not to be aware that the deferred payments would stretch to 15 years.
He said it was also irrational to believe that the “smart ministers” had not known that “deferred payments mean heavy interest”.
"It is not possible that the actual land price cannot be valued. (It is) even stranger that the report from the valuation department was not attached to the Cabinet paper on PKFZ.
"It is my opinion that Ling can sleep in peace and need not worry even though Chan was not accused. I think it will turn out to be just another Perwaja case," he said.
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