PAC inquiry into PKFZ scandal - Azmi Khalid should disqualify himself

By Lim Kit Siang

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid announced after the PAC meeting this morning that the PAC would not summon four key personalities in the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal, viz: the two former Transport Ministers, Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik and Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, former Port Klang Authority (PKA) Chairman and currently Deputy Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung and the former PKFZ general manager O.C.Phang.

This is a most extraordinary decision despite requests by Pakatan Rakyat MPs on the PAC for the four to be summoned to appear before the PAC.

Azmi Khalid should disqualify himself and step aside in the PAC inquiry into the PKFZ scandal because of conflict of interest as he was Minister in the Cabinet which decided on the RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout in July 2007.

I am shocked that despite the PAC meeting for the second day on the PKFZ scandal, the Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has still refused to release the appendices of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) audit report on the PKFZ scandal to PAC members, allowing only restricted access to the appendices during PAC meetings when PAC members should be allowed a set of the appendices each for further study and research by themselves and their respective staff.

This Ministerial restriction makes a total mockery of parliamentary responsibility and accountability of both the Transport Minister as well as PKA and should be deplored in the strongest possible terms.

Unless Ong revokes this restriction immediately, allowing every PAC member a set of the appendices of the PwC report on the PKFZ, I will propose when Parliament meets on Monday that the 83 Pakatan Rakyat MPs submit a joint motion to censure Ong for denying PAC members the right to have full, free and unfettered access to the PwC report on the PKFZ, including the appendices, and in the process impeding and obstructing the PAC from discharging its duties.

(Speech at the Ipoh Barat dinner-dialogue “Political Crisis – What Next” at Florex Restaurant, Ipoh)