Liong Sik’s last act as Transport Minister on May 28, 2003 – unlawfully signing first of four “Letters of Support” for KDSB bonds resulting in RM4.6b PKFZ bailout scandal?


The Prime Minister-cum-Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi began his 2008 budget speech reminding Malaysians of its significance and historic circumstances — on the occasion of the nation’s 50th Merdeka anniversary celebrations and the first Budget as the nation enters the second 50-year phase as an independent state.

To me, the 2008 budget was even more significant — as it was an acid test as to whether the Prime Minister was finally going to “walk the talk” of his National Integrity Plan and keep his pledge to Malaysians that he would lead a clean, incorruptible, accountable, transparent, trustworthy and responsible administration and that he would not countenance the culture of impunity among his Ministers and public officials — or whether he would break his final pledge that he would not approve mega-billion-ringgit bailout of “white-elephant” projects (as all his other pledges of good governance have already been broken).

I was very disappointed by Abdullah’s 2008 Budget, for he had failed this acid test.

There was not a word about the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) bailout scandal — the largest financial scandal at the start of any Prime Minister in Malaysia, even bigger than the RM2.5 billion Bumiputra Malaysia Finance (BMF) scandal which led off the Mahathir premiership more than two decades ago.

Tun Dr. Mahathir had said at the time that the RM2.5 billion BMF scandal was a “heinous crime without criminals”. Are we having another bigger “heinous crime without criminals” in the form of the RM4.6 billion PKFZ scandal under the Abdullah administration?

Abdullah had failed as both Prime Minister and Finance Minister in not giving a full and satisfactory accounting of the government bailout of the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal to set an example of government accountability and financial integrity to all Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries.

This is because in the past two weeks, the Transport Minister, Datuk Chan Kong Choy (before he suddenly went on medical leave, sparking political speculation whether he is resigning from the Cabinet), the Deputy Finance Minister, Datuk Dr. Awang Adek bin Husin and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Finance Ministry, Datuk Seri Dr. Helmi bin Yahaya had been misleading Parliament and the nation about the true nature and character of the RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout scandal.

In the 2007 supplementary estimates totaling RM11.9 billion approved by Parliament last week, the Finance Ministry asked for RM260 million for Port Klang Authority without giving any explanation as to its true purpose.

It was from my exchange with Helmi during the winding-up of the debate at the committee stage that it emerged that the RM260 million sum was the first amount of the RM4.6 billion government bailout for PKFZ, as beginning this year, the first annual payment of RM510 million for the RM4.6 billion bailout for the bonds raised by Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd — the vendor of the controversial sale of 1,000 acres of land to PKFZ and its turnkey contractor – has to be made.

It was also only after I had made persistent demand, declaring that this was information that Parliament and Malaysian taxpayers have right to access, that Helmi read out the schedule of repayments in the RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout, viz:

2007 – RM510 million
2008 – RM660 million
2009 – RM660 million
2010 – RM772 million
2011 – RM487 million
2012 – RM733 million
2013 – RM170 million
2014 – RM170 million
2015 – RM170 million
2016 – RM170 million
2017 – RM179 million
Total – RM4,681 million

However, Chan, Awang and Helmi were all part of a conspiracy to mislead Parliament and nation in denying that there was a RM4.6 billion bailout scandal — Chan in his reply to my question on August 28, Awang in his reply in Parliament on 4th September and Helmi in his reply on 5th September 2007.

In failing to give a full accounting to justify the RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout scandal in his budget speech on Friday, Abdullah as Prime Minister and Finance Minister must bear full responsibility for the Cabinet conspiracy to mislead Parliament and the nation on the biggest financial scandal to start off any premiership in the country.

Up to now, there have been no proper accountability on the various issues on the basis of which I had sought, though unsuccessfully, to adjourn the House to have an urgent debate on the first day of the current parliamentary meeting on August 27 on the PKFZ scandal, viz:

  • (i) Hanky-panky in the purchase of the 1,000 acres for the PKFZ, despite objections by the Finance Ministry and the Attorney-General’s Chambers;

    (ii) mismanagement resulting in the pull-out of Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone (Jafza) from the project, which could become a “white elephant”; and

    (iii) questionable cost-overruns of the PKFZ, ballooning to RM4.63 billion from the original estimate of RM1.1 billion.

  • The unlawful and unauthorized Transport Ministry issue of four “letters of support” which were used by the turnkey contractor – Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) – to raise RM4 billion bonds and get an AAA rating from the Malaysia Rating Corporation Bhd. for the PKFZ project.
  • Why the government and the 26 million Malaysians must now bear responsibility if there is a RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout despite earlier assurances that the PKFZ project would be feasible, self-financing and would not involve a single ringgit of public funds.
  • Why the Prime Minister is breaching his undertaking of no bailout of mega-billion-ringgit “white elephant” projects — set to be the biggest financial scandal at the beginning of any Prime Minister.

I regret that Awang in his reply during the winding-up of the 2007 Supplementary Estimates policy debate last Tuesday was most guilty of half-truths and even falsehoods about the RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout scandal.

I call for a public inquiry into the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone scandal in the model of the Ahmad Nordin public inquiry into the RM2.5 billion Bumiputra Malaysia Finance scandal two decades ago, and among the issues which the public inquiry should focus on are:

(1) Port Klang Authority (PKA) purchase of RM1,000 acres of Pulau Indah land from Kuala Dimensi Sdn. Bhd. for PKFZ at RM25 psf when Treasury and Attorney-General’s Chambers have proposed acquisition under Land Acquisition Act at RM10 psf

This raises the question whether PKA and the Transport Ministry were acting in the best interests of the country or in the interests of Kuala Dimensi Sdn. Bhd (KDSB) and a select group of individuals instead.

There had been a long and intense battle over the price that should be paid to KDSB for the 1,000 acres of land, which the company had acquired for RM95 million in 1999, or about RM3 psf.

Ranged on one side were the Treasury and the Attorney-General’s Chambers who wanted the land to be acquired “for public purpose” under the Land Acquisition Act at RM10 psf while the Transport Ministry and PKA wanted to buy the land at RM25 psf on a “willing seller, willing buyer” basis. I understand that the Transport Ministry and PKA had made this “willing seller, willing buyer” commitment with KDSB. as far back as 2,000, totally without authority of the Treasury or the Cabinet!

The Attorney-General’s Chambers in particular had objected to the “willing seller, willing buyer” pitch by the Transport Ministry and PKA, as apart from the much lower price valuation under the Land Acquisition Act, the 1,000-acre land were not free from encumbrances with several charges and caveats, which would tantamount to a “misrepresentation” or even “fraudulent misrepresentation”.

However, the PKA and the Transport Ministry finally had their way to conclude the “willing-seller, willing-buyer” land deal at RM25 psf after the then Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik gave the Cabinet the categorical assurance that the PKFZ project was feasible, self-financing and would not require any government funding.

Why should the taxpayers be now responsible for the RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout after the PKA and the then Transport Minister had rejected the proposal of the Treasury and the Attorney-General’s Chambers that the land be acquired under the Land Acquisition Act at RM10 psf. If the Treasury and the Attorney-General’s Chambers advice had been accepted, and some RM370 million public funds used to acquire the 1,000 acres of Pulau Indah land for the PKFZ, the country would not be faced with the RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout scandal today.

With the land price shooting up some 19 times to RM1.8 billion from what KDSB paid (RM95 million in 1999), who were the beneficiaries at such inflated price? This should be the special objective of the public inquiry into the PKFZ scandal — whether personalities from MCA, Umno as well as the BN MP for Bintulu, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who is kingpin of KDSB and who had even threatened to institute legal proceedings over government failure to allow PKA to honour its agreement to pay RM25 psf for the 1,000 acre Pulau Indah land.

(2) The ballooning of the PKFZ cost from RM1.1 billion to RM4.6 billion and its development costs from RM400 million to RM2.8 billion.

When PKFZ proposal was first mooted as a feasible and self-financing project, the development costs mentioned was RM400 million. But the development costs have ballooned to RM2.8 billion, although the Transport Ministry and PKA have tried to camouflage such an escalation by the sleight of hand by taking out RM1 billion to be categorized separately as “interests, professional fees and variation order” which were previously incorporated as part of development costs, as in the previous Auditor-General’s report.

The RM2.4 billion excess in development costs from the RM400 million originally approved by the Cabinet were unlawful as they were made without approval and authority from the Cabinet and the Finance Ministry.

There is a pathetic attempt to blame Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza) for the escalation of the development costs from RM400 million to RM2.8 billion for suggesting that both phases be developed at the same time — which not only lacks credibility but reflects very poorly on the professionalism and competence of the PKA officials.

(3) The four “letters of support” by Transport Minister for the RM4.6 billion bonds issued by KDSB through special purpose vehicles

The issue of four “letters of support” by the Transport Minister for the RM3.8 billion bonds issued by KDSB, which were regarded as government guarantees, resulting in 3A ratings by Malaysia Rating Corporation Berhad (MARC).

This is unlawful and gross abuse of power as only the Cabinet can authorize such government guarantee for bonds and which can only be issued by the Finance Ministry. The four letters of support had never been authorized by the Cabinet.

The first letter of support was issued by the former Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Ling Liong Sik and the three others by Chan Kong Choy.

It is regrettable that Awang had misled the House on the “Letters of Support” issued by the Transport Minister.

Awang said: “Saya baca sendiri letter of support ini, sebenarnya dia bukan merupakan gerenti hanya sokongan oleh seorang Menteri bahawa projek ini adalah projek kepentingan awam dan sebagai Kementerian Pengangkutan dia akan berusaha untuk memastikan syarikat dapat bayar balik.” Or as he earlier said: “Letter of support ini hanya menyatakan kepada rating agensi bahawa ini adalah projek kerajaan dan Kementerian Pengangkutan akan memastikan yang bayaran loan ini akan dapat dibuat sebaik mana yang boleh, to be best of the ability dengan izin.”

What Awang said is untrue. The “letter of support” of the Transport Minister for the KDSB bonds provides implicit government guarantee to investors although the Minister concerned has no power to do so, as it reads:

“… We shall at all times in the future ensure that PKA (Port Klang Authority) is in the position to meet (and do meet on a full and timely basis) their liabilities in respect of the Repayment Amount for so long as an amount in respect of the Repayment Amount remains outstanding… ”

The implicit guarantee is clear from its contents and there is no need to argue over it, leaving the question why Awang tried to mislead the House by giving a completely wrong picture.

I challenge any Cabinet Minister to deny that it was precisely because the government accepts that the Transport Minister’s “letters of support” were tantamount to government guarantees for KDSB’s RM4.6 billion bonds that the the Cabinet has recently given retrospective approval to the unauthorized government guarantees to the KDSB bonds based on the four letters of support of the Transport Minister.

As a result, the Cabinet also approved the RM4.6 billion bailout of the PKFZ scandal.

The question is why no punitive action had been taken against the Transport Minister concerned who had unlawfully issued letters of support for KDSB’s RM4.6 billion bonds, which have forced the Cabinet to give them retrospective approval and the RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout.
Was there an independent audit as to how the RM4.6 billion PKFZ scandal could have occurred, resulting in the Malaysian taxpayers having to bear its costs while a handful of cronies would have waxed rich with a windfall of millions, tens and hundreds of millions of ringgit?

The first letter of support for the first issue of RM1.31 billion bonds by KDSB was issued by the former Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Ling Liong Sik on May 28, 2003 which was his last day as Transport Minister before going on a month’s leave and resignation.

Was the signing of the unlawful letter of support fror KDSB’s first issue of RM1.31 billion bonds Ling’s last act as Transport Minister? This raises grave questions about propriety and integrity of Ling in his last day in office as Transport Minister which must be thoroughly investigated.
Recently, Ling had been having selective memory about his role in the PKFZ scandal which was initiated when he helmed the Transport Ministry.

How can Ling hide his head under the sand and claim that the PKFZ plan to “emulate Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone was a good strategic idea” when it has become a national calamity, requiring a RM4.6 billion bail-out?

Ling said the intention of PKFZ was to copy Jebel Ali Free Zone, which had 4,500 factories supplying to the whole of the Gulf, by combining port trade with Jebel Ali and bring at least half the factories to PKFZ to supply to Asean.

After spawning the monster of a RM4.6 billion mega-financial scandal, what has PKFZ to show in terms of achieving the target of attracting 2,250 factories from Jebel Ali Free Zone to Port Klang? Has it achieved 10, five or even one per cent of this target so far?

What is worse, the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) which originally had a 15-year contract to be management consultants of PKFZ to tap into Jafza’s expertise in this field had been driven out of the country because of hanky-panky in the administration and management of PKFZ.
It is intriguing why Ling had brought out the name of the former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, specifically saying that the Cabinet meeting chaired by Mahathir had approved his (Ling) recommendation “to acquire the land” for the PKFZ project.

Is Ling trying to pass the buck by implying that it was Mahathir who must bear full and final responsibility for the RM4.6 billion PKFZ scandal?

However, Ling has a very selective memory about the Cabinet decision on the acquisition of the 1,000 acres of land for PKFZ, claiming that he could not remember the actual price paid for the land. Is this credible? Would he have also faulty memory about the letter of support which he unlawfully extended for KDSB bonds on his last day in office as Transport Minister on May 28, 2003?

It was most improper and unwarranted for the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz to tell Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad to “shut up” about the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) investigation into the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) bailout scandal especially when Nazri is an interested party, being a member of the Cabinet which decided on the bailout.

On Thursday, the PAC had a two-hour meeting on the PKFZ bailout scandal, with a briefing by the Port Klang Authority (PKA) general manager Datin Paduka O.C. Phang, who was accompanied by an accountant and administrative staff and Transport Ministry officials, including its secretary-general Datuk Zakaria Bahari and representatives from the finance, planning and port divisions.

After the two-hour meeting, Shahrir as PAC Chairman told the press that the PAC was “unsatisfied” with how the meeting went.

Shahrir said: “The problem with the Port Klang Free Zone is far bigger than what the papers have reported. Far too many questions were left unanswered.”

It was over Shahrir’s comments that Nazri blew his top yesterday, telling Sin Chew Daily that Shahrir should “shut up” on the ground that it was wrong to talk to the press before the end of the PAC investigation.

This was not the first time that Shahrir as PAC Chairman had made comments about ongoing PAC investigations in the past three years but Nazri had never voiced any objections in the past.

Why is Nazri so sensitive and high-strung now over the PAC investigation into the RM4.6 billion bailout scandal? Is it because Nazri has a vested interest, being an interested party as a Minister of the Cabinet which had approved the RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout?

It is Nazri who should “shut up” about PAC investigation into the PKFZ scandal and not interfere with the independence of the PAC to carry out its tasks mandated by Parliament as the PAC is answerable to Parliament and not to Nazri, though he is Minister in charge of parliamentary affairs for the Cabinet.

(Speech 4 on 2008 Budget in Parliament on Monday, September 10, 2007)

  1. #1 by achia3 on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 4:18 pm

    For those who are behind the act already knew that it would come to this one day and honestly speaking I think the PM is in a real dilemma. If the PM revoke the bailout, it would cost the Malaysian Rating Agency to lose its credibility and will make it hard for Malaysian companies to obtain credit line with their rating in their future. The PM is really caught between the rock and a hard place.

    Don’t get me wrong, I am no supporter of BN but I think shooting aimlessly with any targets that pops out is pointless. It won’t give you or the opposition parties more browny points.

  2. #2 by Jeffrey on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 4:45 pm

    Beyond veneer of developing modern nation, the core (state of political & corporate governance and morality) is rotten/zilch : the political and business elites of this country are only interested in enriching and aggrandizing themselves at rakyat’s expense.

    They are cavalier with other people’s money – our moneys, which raises the inevitable question why people should, through ‘blood sweat and toil’, keep on funding by direct and direct taxes the coffers of the state for it only to be raped.

    There is simply no culture that when one manages the public money, one is in a fiduciary position of trust not to fritter it – sorry ‘fritter’ is the wrong word : as what Godfather used to say, it is indirect theft!

    This is very third world culture/mentality of which Malaysians should be ashamed.

    Good job YB, keep badgering them on this PKFZ bailout scandal – it stinks to high heavens – the amount RM4.6 billion is mega dwarfing the likes of what the Auditor General says about inflation of costs by various ministries, Supremme Systems Sdn. Bhd’s rent seeking monopoly, which in relation to the abuse in PKFZ, compare almost like peanuts!

    What’s wrong with Liong Sik? Transmile, the company of which he recently stepped down as Chairman was also embroiled in financial irregularities and mismanagement……To Kong Choy, better resign or else more headache.

  3. #3 by Godfather on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 5:26 pm

    Completely rotten moral fibre, and I still don’t understand how any god-fearing or Allah-fearing person can sleep easy at night with full knowledge of this theft of public funds.

    Islam Hadhari gives UMNO the “had” to steal ?

  4. #4 by TCTC on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 5:42 pm

    Kit, I was wandering… so many “challenges” you have put forward to the BN government as written in many articles in your blog… how many of those have been responded?? If none of the BN ppl respond, how effective is this blog except for us (to understand the issue raised) that reading it?

  5. #5 by shortie kiasu on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 5:56 pm

    It is a dirt shame to the BN governmentand all its ministers to have allowed or condoned or colluded in such heinous crime against the people of Malaysia and her tax payers.

    With the exposure, the whole world now witnessed how the BN run the country down and betray the trust of the people.

    The whole nation should stand up against such crimes committed by the servants of BN government like nobody’s business, like makan kacang putih.

  6. #6 by cklife on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 6:38 pm

    Hey guys, check out this patriotic video.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OROveFdp7Cs

    It’s pure reflection of Bangsa Malaysia

  7. #7 by bystander on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 6:39 pm

    I have commented before that LLS is man without honour and principle. He is rotten to the core. Whichever company and wherever he goes there is financial debacle/fiasco – PKFZ, TRANSMILE and rekapac. He is Mr PYTHON. He swallows lock, stock and barrel.

  8. #8 by Justicewanted on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 8:21 pm

    I was very disappointed by Abdullah’s 2008 Budget, for he had failed this acid test
    _____________________________

    Uncle LKS

    You are not the only one who is disappointed. I believe majority of the Malaysia is.

    Don’t talk about acid test. “Urine” test he also cannot pass.

  9. #9 by borrring on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 10:32 pm

    Oh my…oh my…the gov is heading towards trouble…

  10. #10 by sheriff singh on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 11:30 pm

    “Letter of Support”? What the heck is that? Playing around with words?

    Let us see the actual words contained in this “Letter of Support” to determine if it is merely a “Letter of Support”.

    The wordings should clarify whether it is merely a “support”, guarantee, indemnity or whatever they might want to call it in the future.

    Remember how even Bank Negara tried to cover up Nor Mohd Yakcop’s RM 30 billion over losses by using deceptive words and classifying them differently? What a big deception it was until somebody got wise to it.

  11. #11 by non-conformist on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 11:31 pm

    When will the Buruk Negara led government stop raping and bleeding the citizens???

  12. #12 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 11:45 pm

    Few Malaysians realize that as a result of the massive corruption and the bailouts made necessary for these bad decisions, our grandchildren and their children will have to bear the burden. It all translates to inreased direct and indirect taxes. When goods and services cost more we know why.

  13. #13 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 11:47 pm

    I’m glad I’m not around to pay all those taxes!

  14. #14 by sheriff singh on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 11:52 pm

    Like many others, scoff from afar. Those that remain will have to bear the consequences.

  15. #15 by sheriff singh on Wednesday, 12 September 2007 - 12:16 am

    If we have bankers that lend based on these “Letters of Support”, then they deserve to have huge NPLs on their Balance Sheets.

    Their approving authorities and officials need to be sacked for negligence or for stupidity or perhaps both.

    And they don’t deserve to be rescued.

    Wake up Bank Negara.

  16. #16 by pwcheng on Wednesday, 12 September 2007 - 1:18 am

    The whole bloody government is corrupted even if they keep on denying it. It is only a question of you cover me and I cover you and PKFZ is only one of the many examples. The other recent incident, albeit a much smaller one from the auditors report of mismanagement of public funds, I find it amusing that in yesterday’s TV news our AP queen was blaming the supplier for excessive profiteering when it is so obvious that is is due to heavy kickbacks whereby even Diego Maradona or David Beckham cannot beat them.

    In this country that breed anacondas that swallows by the billions,pythons that swallows by the millions, bull snakes by the thousands or hundreds of thousands and the worms like the mata mata, enforcement officers, clerks and even office boys wriggling around to suck some dollars.

    All these are known to every Malaysians, including all UMNO Big Wigs who only try to escape by using the denial tactics. The Sleepy Head has taken us for a spin for promising us heaven but giving us hell. The recent budget is obviously a vote buying budget.
    Unfortunately most kampong folks and villagers will not be able to analyze all these.

    The bull shitter has been telling that the opposition caused trouble because they were not able to bring any developments to Trengganu while in power for 5 years.That theory is loaded with bull shit judging from what he has done during his almost 5 years in power. Why is there no riot in the country? If his theory holds good the country should be already torn to shreds.

  17. #17 by kslye on Wednesday, 12 September 2007 - 1:53 am

    Good job. Uncle Lim. Keep it up!

  18. #18 by undergrad2 on Wednesday, 12 September 2007 - 6:06 am

    This matter about the “letters of support” issued not by MoF is reminiscent of the days in the early 80s when one Abdullah Ang was running around with a memo from Mahathir. It entitled him to a four-year stay in Pudu Hilton as its most privileged customer (he would disappear over the weekends only to return every Monday) at the expense of His Majesty’s Service.

  19. #19 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 12 September 2007 - 6:36 am

    Abdullah Ang’s entitlement to a “four-year stay in Pudu Hilton as its most privileged customer” actually included the privilege on weekends to party at the disco at the real Hotel Hilton along Jalan Sultan Ismail!

    That aside, what is noteworthy about PKFZ is that it is not a case of some minister and officials, Acting Fully Within Their Powers, jurisdiction And Authority, making decisions in support of crony companies and their unviable or infeasible projects at the expense of the national coffers.

    This is a case in which according to Kit’s posting here the issuance of 4 “letters of support” by Transport Ministry for the benefit of turnkey contractor – Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) – to raise RM4 billion bonds and get an AAA rating from the Malaysia Rating Corporation Bhd (“RAM”). was “unauthorized” in the sense of they not having been properly sanctioned by the Ministry of Finance, as would have ordinarily been the case! Even the purchase of the 1000 acres land at RM25 psf on a “willing seller, willing buyer” basis from KDSB was over the objections of Treasury and the Attorney-General’s Chambers who wanted the land to be acquired “for public purpose” under the Land Acquisition Act at RM10 psf.

    In other words, at every step of the way, decisions were made by ministerial/government officials outside their proper jurisdiction and authority which made every of such decision irregular and tainted with illegality (ultra vires).

    What is surprising is that in proceeding to bail out KDSB, the government is giving the unmistakable signal that it will condone and ratify acts of ministerial/government officials that are outside their respective jurisdiction, powers or authority – in other words again, condone illegality and irregularity within its own rank.

    This is bringing scandal to new high.

    Then all these third parties – ranging from bondholders, investors, rating agency, RAM and the banks – the message here is that they don’t have to exercise due diligence or prudence ; they could just get a financial recourse from public funds relying on any letter of support (whether for comfort/awareness purposes only or a guarantee or indemnity) or representation illegally and irregularly issued outside their powers and jurisdiction.

    When will they learn how to act professionally to safeguard investors and depositors’ interest when they are not held accountable to examine whether the exercise of ministerial/official decision (by way of issuing unauthorised letters of support) had been proper and regular?

    Everyone takes a lackadaisical approach because they are not doing the paying and the burden is always shifted to the ultimate sucker – the tax payers and their heirs.

  20. #20 by Bigjoe on Wednesday, 12 September 2007 - 7:12 am

    I feel that the most important part of blowing this scandal apart is the business plan that they had and have now to compare. There should be a copy around that will verify what was the exact original plan and how they unrealistic the assumption became.

    There is no cause for paying RM25psf. They would have to sell it RM40 psf at least to break even and with the debt, its probably even more now. When completed factories in Shah Alam cannot sell for more than single digit psf, this is just gross….

  21. #21 by k1980 on Wednesday, 12 September 2007 - 8:17 am

    Pay increase of 42% still not enough!
    http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=294950&rss=yes
    Tuesday Sep 11 12:00 AEST Malaysian bag snatcher turns out to be policeman

    A thief chased and caught by a group of Malaysians after he snatched a woman’s handbag turned out to be a policeman, a newspaper said on Tuesday.

    Bystanders gave chase on hearing the screams of a housewife at a coffee shop in Ipoh, capital of the northern state of Perak, when the thief grabbed her handbag, the New Straits Times said.

    The man was taken to a police station, where a check of his identification papers showed he was a policeman.

    Perak police chief Zulkifli Abdullah confirmed the suspect was a policeman, but declined further comment, saying police would investigate,

  22. #22 by Godfather on Wednesday, 12 September 2007 - 8:52 am

    Like I said in a previous posting, this has to be the classic “success” of an Ali-baba operation. UMNO thieves with the full cooperation of MCA ministers, past and present.

    It is so blatant that the UMNO players never made any effort to hide their identities. Of course, the MCA being what they are, crumbs are all that it took to secure “cooperation” from the Transport Ministry. When the thieves are now caught with their hands in the cookie jar, they look at you straight in the face and say “so what ?”.

  23. #23 by undergrad2 on Wednesday, 12 September 2007 - 10:14 am

    Malaysia is like a 50-yr old virgin helplessly pinned to the ground while members of an unruly mob (UMNO, MCA, MIC and their side kicks) raped her so many times that she lost count and could no longer identify who the rapists are.

    That is what happens on Budget day every year.

  24. #24 by simon tan on Wednesday, 12 September 2007 - 6:38 pm

    If and only if question is raise on why there is . A question is how many politician live just with his normal income? Can a politician survive with the normal income? Then the desire to live as usual breed naturally. Unless there is one who are influence by money politic to police the politician, we can’t expected a thief to catch a crook. In the absent of such a person or effective body, opposition party is the saviour for all Malaysian to live peacefully.

  25. #25 by dawsheng on Thursday, 13 September 2007 - 9:32 am

    “heinous crime without criminals”. How appropriate. Is like the act of God, izit? Tun Ling signed the letters, if there’s a crime then there’s must be a criminal.

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