Datuk Lee Hwa Beng should have been sacked instead of being re-appointed as Port Klang Authority (PKA) Chairman as he is not efficient, competent or professional about the release of the PricewaterhouseCooper report on the mega-billion ringgit Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.
The Edge weekly (April 27 – May3, 2009) which carried the cover story of “Total PKFZ bill – RM8 billion?” published a letter from Datuk Lee Hwa Beng responding to the Edge expose, saying that the Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat had in early April made a statement that the release of the PKFZ report was “up to the PKA” but as his term as PKA Chairman “had technically expired on March 31 this year, I was not able to respond” to the Edge report.
This however did not prevent him from saying that he had read the PwC final report and saying that it “cannot be released while awaiting declassification by other government departments”.
I had in my media statement of April 28 posed this question to the Transport Minister:
“Can Ong explain his Ministerial inefficiency and incompetence in allowing the post of PKA Chairman to remain vacant from March 31, when he should have known that it is important to either re-appoint Lee or appoint a new Chairman so that no one could make the excuse that no decision could be made during the month of April on the publication of the PwC report on PKFZ scandal as the post of PKA Chairman is vacant!”
There was no answer from Ong but he promptly re-appointed Lee as PKA Chairman, who has since come out with a new reason for the delay in the release of the PwC Report on the PKFZ scandal – the “technical issue” that the report could only be released with the consent of PwC.
Lee said after the expiry of Ong’s one-week deadline for the release of the PwC report that he had written to the PwC on April 30 to seek its consent and PwC replied on May 4 that consent will be given subject to “certain terms and conditions”.
This is most ridiculous. Who owns the PwC report on the PKFZ scandal – the PwC or PKA? How much did PKA pay PwC for the PKFZ audit? Or is the PKA delinquent in owing money to PwC for its audit report?
What are these “certain terms and conditions” for the release of the PwC report when all along the public had been told the problem causing the delay of the release was with the declassification under the Official Secrets Act by the relevant Ministries?
Why didn’t both Ong and Lee know beforehand about this “consent” required to be sought from the PwC although it is the PKA who is paying PwC for the audit?
This is why Lee should be sacked instead of being re-appointed as PKA for such inefficient, incompetent and unprofessional conduct.
It is time to stop appointing MCA lackeys as PKA Chairman – highlighted by the PKFZ scandal which has ballooned from RM1.8 billion in 2002 under Datuk Seri Ling Liong Sik as Transport Minister, to RM4.6 billion under Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy and now to the frightening figure quoted by local and foreign media as RM12 billion under Ong.
#1 by All For The Road on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 7:33 am
Both the Transport Minister and the PKA Chairman should get the boot with immediate effect for grossly being inefficient, incompetent and unprofessional in carrying out a simple duty like that. PM Najib should crack the whip on them for their indifferent attitude towards the 1Malaysia project. There should be no mercy!
#2 by mumzie on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 7:46 am
Uncle Lim, What happened to KPI? KSK are you sleeping, are you sleeping brother KSK…… TIME TO WAKE UP and table out your KPI on Lee and Ong! SACKED them both. What a real joke BN people played.
#3 by c730427 on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 7:48 am
PKFZ case alone can bring down the entire house of UMNO-MCA elite group. We need to put the pressure on continuously against those who are corrupt!
This could be traced back from Tun’s day. Of course, Tun will say it is morally wrong and he was not informed in details of this matter. Now, OTK needs to clean up the toilet after the mess or else MCA will forever walk with this stinky image for life!
#4 by monsterball on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 7:48 am
Get any MCA person to expose MCA corruptions?
What does UMNO think Malaysians are….idiots??
We always knew it is a side show…hoping Malaysians are real stupid.’
It reminds me of the Mongolian murder case..which all interested in the case….know the verdict long long ago..no surprise…just delaying boring tactics.. hoping Malaysians get bored and ignore it.
Their varieties of wayang kulit are low class and outdated.
People’s Power is patient and waiting for 13th GE..ignoring.going about their business…until the day arrive to vote.
Personally I am so tired to keep reading and seeing all those low class acting in Perak…..when all can be settled peacefully by State election..UMNO keep ignoring it.
That alone tells you..how confident Najib is as PM elected by the people….and not chosen by UMNO and stuff the choice into our throats. They can go to hell with that kind of democracy.
Roght now….
#5 by ALLAN THAM on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 8:33 am
Let share some fact with you guys on the one the player in this PKFZ STRUCTURED PRODUCT, the turnkey contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd ( 297068-V)
The following information was available from SSM search by paying RM15.00 per search.
The audited financial results for the latest two years were summarized below for your guys to digest:
31 Dec 2007 2006
RM RM
Turnover 252,530,866 677,748,193
Profit before tax 38,582,088 37,954,871
Profit after tax 30,323,608 25,570,190
Net dividend -35,000,000 -25,000,000
No bad at all, the turnkey contractor has made healthy profit and making good dividend paid out for the last two years.
#6 by sotong on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 8:35 am
If Najib is serious about Performance now……..it is time to chop a few heads immediately, whoever they are, for this huge scandal.
The ordinary people wants their money back, every single cent, to invest in education, police, disable and aged care, transport and etc..
#7 by yhsiew on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 8:36 am
It is time to stop appointing MCA lackeys as PKA Chairman……….
====================================================
MCA may become a redundant component in BN, if UMNO succeeds in reaching out to non-Malays by NOT getting MCA/MIC involved.
Recent events showed that Najib is trying to by-pass MCA/MIC to reach out to non-Malays presumably because of bitter feuding within the two parties and the problems that they brought to UMNO e.g. PKFZ scandal and animosity between Samy Vellu and Hindraf.
#8 by ALLAN THAM on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 8:40 am
The so call enhancement of the swam land contracted to the turnkey contract has enable the contractor make handsome profit, while the life of the project is unknown. It may be at the intensive care unit by now, but the specialist from MCA and so forth are not giving out.
As mentioned before this kind of structured product is very common while Ponzi Scheme is criminal in nature but not this structured product is seem perfectly ok as this has been the normal practices as commented by Mamak Tail. But in essence there is no difference between this structured product as compare with PONZI Scheme as both was with the intention to milk the tax payers out of their moneys to benefits the few.
#9 by sotong on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 8:45 am
BN’s “power sharing” is obviously not working with decades of bad leadership and gross mismanagement……..it all started when someone thought it is good to spend big with taxpayers’ money without responsibility and accountability.
#10 by k1980 on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 9:02 am
This RM12 billion scam could not be the work of the mca monkeys alone. They simply do not have the leverage or the authority to carry it out on their own. This huge con job needs the connivance of umno
#11 by taiking on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 9:23 am
Wot’s RM12b? Only a drop in the ocean of US$100b lost through corruption over the years.
No wonder najib said got no money to fight by-election!
Come to think of it. Its good to engineer a stream of by-elections. Umno’s style of money politics can be tapped (like tapping latex from rubber trees) during by-election and their ill-gotten wealth can channeled back to the people. This is one good way of ensuring that those money remains in circulation within the country and does not end up overseas.
It is also good for another reason. Drain them dry so that come GE13 they will have insufficient funds to finance their money politics tactics. The economy is bad now. That means inflow is slow. That means they cannot afford outflow. That is why najib is complaining about costly by-election. Make sense?
#12 by SpeakUp on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 9:27 am
Its obvious Datuk Lee Hwa Beng was given the post to compensate for the loss in GE12. He is a nice man actually, he can tell really low class dirty jokes in front of people at big dinners. He is pretty good at that as I have experienced it myself. So if any of you need some annual dinner entertainment you can call him.
#13 by Godfather on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 9:53 am
The next excuse is that the original copy of the report has gone missing, and that a police report has been made. MCA is awaiting the outcome of police investigations.
#14 by Godfather on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 9:57 am
The “profit” attributable to Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd is the “fee” that the lackey Tiong required to go along with this hare-brained scheme. The RM 8 billion worth of “charges” is the real juice – and you can find who gets what from the list of sub-contractors to Kuala Dimensi. I doubt the PwC report lists out the sub-contractors who have probably taken the money and disappeared completely.
#15 by Bigjoe on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 9:59 am
Sdr. Lim may have hit on a political gold mine here. This thing smells more and more everyday. ‘Technical issue’ should not take weeks to sort out. Its more likely that the culprits had so many layers of mess that trying to clean one thing lead to another thing to be clean up and holding the whole thing up…
#16 by SpeakUp on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 10:00 am
Dato Seri Tiong has done a great job. We do not need the PWC report to hang anyone here. Basically, no one got the guts to address this matter properly.
Its simple … start from the purchase price. Valuation says one price but purchase is done at a much higher price. That says it all. We need not even bother to move into the contractor work. The thing was rotten from the start.
Again, who will be hung to dry? It will be all covered again. Why? Because even the Rakyat is not screaming for accountability. Anymore major protests?
#17 by boh-liao on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 10:00 am
Hi-yah, LKS, you siow old man
Some more in Malaysian politics so long
Still no know the working of ruling parties meh?
Of cos lah, you no experience rule lah
Open mouth, close mouth
Resign here, RM10 pay cut there
Siow liao
Think ruling a country so senang
Go ask your son LGE ruling in Pinang
To keep ruling and stay in power
needs money you know, big fat money
To keep cronies and supporters ‘appy & rich
To buy votes – you no hear money politics keh?
Why Hee Hee Whore Whore jumped?
Manila!
(Money lah) No money no speak
Where money money come from, honey?
From sky ah? From thin air ah?
Mega projects lah
Privitization lah
Corridors lah
More best
Bigger best, love them
RM8 billion, RM12 billion
Sup sup sway
You no know Razak Baginda meh?
One submarine deal already
ciak bei leow commission (lagi legal punya)
Kaya raya for no know how many generations
Also got pray pray with sexy girl, wohlaaaa
This PKFZ project
Supermega scale you know
But you no know many commissions to bayar, right?
Don’t lah make so much noise
Go lah ask LGE the real-life art of governing
Not too late at your old age
to learn something new
#18 by Godfather on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 10:00 am
As Limkamput pointed out in the previous thread, professional advisors are usually nothing more than prostitutes in 3-piece suits, so it is important to figure out what the “qualifications” to the report are. It is also important to figure out exclusions and omissions from PwC.
#19 by Ken G on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 10:41 am
It’s ridiculous to say that they need PwC permission to release the report. The report belongs to the client, not the auditor. Such a weak excuse.
But if the fallout from the report is greater than holding back the report, MCA may prefer to sit on it rather than release it.
#20 by k1980 on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 10:41 am
Also got pray pray with sexy girl, wohlaaaa
You forgot to mention the ka-boomm ending to the pray pray with sexy girl
#21 by Godfather on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 10:43 am
PKFZ involves more than just the Mute Chinese Association, and so the post of PKA Chairman has to be “approved” by the various parties at the federal level. Yes, Ong Ta Kut has the right to nominate the Chairman, but the final approval (for Lee Hwa Beng) still had to come from the MCA’s political taikor.
The post of PKA Chairman involves specialised qualifications. No, I am not talking about experience in logistics or in shipping or haulage. I am talking about specialised qualifications like (a) who can be a mute lamb for BN (b) who needs to be taken care of financially (c) who can be eternally loyal to Ong Ta Kut.
The Mute Chinese Association is not fighting for meritocracy; it’s fighting for political survival.
#22 by Kasim Amat on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 10:57 am
MCA is indeed inefficient in dealing with the matter. If it was handled by UMNO in the first place it will be much better. In any case, we should spend more time in finding solutions to the current economy crisis and not keep arguing on some past events which do not bring any benefits to the public. As audit has been done, the government will take the advise of PWC to make the necessary improvements on the PKFZ. As such, the PWC report on PKFZ should remain confidential as I do not see any reason that it should be published to the public.
#23 by donplaypuks on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 10:59 am
YB
Lee Hwa Beng’s stance that they need PWC’s permission to release the PKZ Report is clearly a cop out and he must be buying time to cover up more things in the report and the company.
Also, I don’t know, but PWC may have been the auditors as well, and are perhaps trying to cover their ass for negilgence.
Whatever you do, don’t let up on the pressure on Ong and Lee, and you should press for Ling Liong Sik to be charged. There have been 1 too many $billion frauds and financial mismanagements in M’sia without anyone being held rsponsible for it.
htp://donplaypuks.blogspot.com
#24 by Godfather on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 11:23 am
“MCA is indeed inefficient in dealing with the matter. If it was handled by UMNO in the first place it will be much better.” Kasim Amat, my former AP partner.
A typical Bodoh Sombong comment from an UMNOputra who is obviously in the dark as to what the scam was all about.
#25 by sotong on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 12:01 pm
Inefficient in covering up wrong doings………one must learn from the master.
#26 by LBJ on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 12:05 pm
The bloody Lee Hwa Beng is an lying incompetent useless sob. That is why he was re-appointed.
Having said that, there is no bloody reason for Ong Tee Keat to delay the release of the PWC report. How long can these two play tai-chi. The reasons from Lee Hwa Beng is gettting stupider and stupider. The silence from Ong Tee Keat is getting louder and louder.
If Ong Tee Keat is sincere to change MCA, he need to and he must sacrifice Lee Hwa Beng – for being a fool, Lim Lion Sik and Chan Kon Choy for being crooks, together with the Ding fella from Sarawak.
#27 by i_love_malaysia on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 12:33 pm
Najis is going to announce another super mini budget just to take care of the RM12 Billion “technical issue” of PKFZ!!! No wonder BN is going to stop complete withdrawal of EPF money in one lump sum when member reaching 55!!! No more money how to give one lump sum!!! The biggest Ponzi scheme in the world!!! My advise is to take out whatever that you can before it is far too late!!!
#28 by i_love_malaysia on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 12:47 pm
A new break through study by BN on PKFZ, in order to have the economy of size, PKFZ must expand in size even further by another 500%. If it is RM12 Billion now, it should reach RM60 Billion ASAP!!!
#29 by i_love_malaysia on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 12:59 pm
Kasim Amat Says:
Today at 10: 57.06 (1 hour ago)
MCA is indeed inefficient in dealing with the matter. If it was handled by UMNO in the first place it will be much better. In any case, we should spend more time in finding solutions to the current economy crisis and not keep arguing on some past events which do not bring any benefits to the public. As audit has been done, the government will take the advise of PWC to make the necessary improvements on the PKFZ. As such, the PWC report on PKFZ should remain confidential as I do not see any reason that it should be published to the public.
================
You are right not to disclose because the money had been spent and it takes time, money and effort to catch hold of those who did wrong and malaysian are the most forgiving people on earth and there’s no begger or marginalised people in malaysia and also we have to maintain harmony and people dont like problems especially need to do calculations about 12 billions or more!!! Moreover the money was spent to generate economy activities, anyway the BN govt is implementing many mini budget and this is one of them!!! Well spin!!! Kasim Amat!!!
#30 by Bobster on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 1:10 pm
Ong, MCA & UMNO total disgrace to Rakyat Malaysia.
Ong & cronies should sack themselves without further delay.
1Malaysia = 1Robbers
#31 by ALLAN THAM on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 1:26 pm
PKA has engaged PWC to conduct an audit and report to PKA. When PWC take up the assignment they will set up the term of reference and PWC is reporting to PKA and PWC duties and responsibilities is strictly reporting to PKA. That should be the norm and PWC is not so stupid as to simply release the report to any dick and tom.
Assume the audit report from PWC has been release to PKA and bill PKA according which I presume PWC should have received some advance and only release the final report upon full payment unless PWC trusted PKA very much.
The next question was can PWC set a condition that this report is only for the eye of KPA only and not to be release as public documents? PWC could set this condition as PWC will scare to shit be sue by any dick and tom if the report was found to be not so accurate ? So this may be the technical issue that PWC has force upon PKA.
#32 by gofortruth on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 1:31 pm
PwC replied on May 4 that consent will be given subject to “certain terms and conditions”
———————
Wow! They made it sounded as if PwC is doing some blackmailing at the back. So, are we to understand that if the “money” is right, PwC can even alter the audit report?
Or could it be that MCA is under pressure by its ‘taiko’ UMNO to hide/blackout certain aspects of the report on the one hand & MCA is in turn not willing to do so until & unless under certain of their MCA’s personal demands are met?
Our nation is fast becoming a land of “blackmail”.
#33 by taiking on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 2:59 pm
Let me relate one interesting story. Highway project. Tender. Gobermen valuer assesed projefct costs at RM100m (fictitious). Tender submitted ranged from 80 to 150m. 150m tender was sucessful. How? Consultants.
Only in malaysia you get such consultants. They do not exist in other countries. This is the equivalent of organised crime; i.e. organised corruption. The consultant inevitably is someone well connected to umno people. Usually no proper personels operating the consultancy. Only that well connected joker.
In the highway project the consultant approached the gobermen valuer and got the project costs revised to 150m. Awarded project to the 150m tender on the basis that the rest are under-provided and may not be able to complete the job. Consultant then got 15m as commission.
What was better. Subsequently, the 80m guy also approached the same consultant (see they are in great demand). How did the consultant resolve the matter? Ask the 150m guy to subcontract to the 80m guy for about 100m. The 150m guy earned 50m for doing nothing. Consultant earned an extra 10m commission. 80m guy got the job and got 10m more profit.
Everything ends well. All parties reasonably happy. People like you and me lose out in this deal. But that is not important. This is a typical job of a consultant.
#34 by the reds on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 2:59 pm
Is MCA still relevant in Malaysia??? What a shame to have Ong Ta Kut as Transport Minister!!! Photo-shooting No.1, solving problem-Never!!! Only Talk Talk Talk, and always give lame speech….
#35 by ALLAN THAM on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 3:18 pm
PWC most probably seek PKA to indemnify them i case some one sue them as a result of the disclosure.
In the first place the engagement of PWc to prepare the audit was ill conceive, it should do by setting a royal commission inquiry.
We have to bear in mind that PWC is just a private enterprise who provide professional services. But of course they are most happy to take up the job as the fee should run into millions.
#36 by Kasim Amat on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 4:05 pm
In business, it is normal that you either make money or lose money. There is nothing to yell about if the project lose money. It could be due to various external and internal factors and because of national interests, it may not be good for the government to explain everything to the public. This matter should not be overly discussed because an investigation has been concluded. Anyone who is not satisfied with the report of PWC can always ask to engage another firm such as KPMG or Ernst & Young to conduct the investigation again.
#37 by Godfather on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 4:21 pm
Bodoh Kasim Amat:
In business, when you make money or lose money, you take the consequences. You either get rich or you go bankrupt. In this case the rakyat has to fork out RM 4.8 billion in bailout money, and looks set to spend a similar sum to keep the business going. What national interests are you talking about ? RM 12 billion went into certain individuals’ pockets, and a stupid person like you don’t want to know who, why and what for ?
Now you know why we had our AP bisnes. A sure-win formula from Barisan Nasional.
#38 by Godfather on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 4:26 pm
A succession of MCA ministers have been treated as slaves by UMNO to the point where the MCA ministers will do anything to support UMNO’s stealing habits. All UMNO needed to do was to throw some crumbs on to the floor and the MCA lap-dogs like Ling, Chan, and Ong will do whatever is needed to help UMNO steal.
The rakyat is saying: NO MORE. No more stealing.
#39 by Bobster on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 5:03 pm
Tell us which investment never consider ROI or at least projection of return rather than signing blank cheque like the corridor projects?
Even the biggest investor in PFKZ from UAE also terminated the contract due to failure of Transport Minister to arrest the issue, what’s more should we add.
Only dumb and dumber aka Association of UMNO & MCA similar to what Amat Kasim preach shall tell us RAKYAT MALAYSIA to forget and bury the issue.
Totally irresponsible without transparency and integrity in global business point of view.
How to do business with other countries?
How to encourage foreign investors?
Please dont call yourselves Malaysians.
Total Disgrace.
NO SHAME.
#40 by Godfather on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 7:21 pm
“How to do business with other countries?
How to encourage foreign investors?”
They don’t, they can’t and they won’t. They are so stupid through years of NEP abuse they don’t know how to do business the proper way. Their only way of doing business is to steal from the rakyat. They have perfected the “heads I win, tails you lose” mentality. We the taxpayers are their only “investors”.
#41 by ekans on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 8:02 pm
Saudara Kasim Amat,
Saya rasa adalah tidak wajar untuk kerajaan atau sesiapa pun mengambil langkah untuk merahsiakan sebarang lapuran yang dapat menjelaskan kepada rakyat kenapa kerajaan mereka telah meggunakan sejumlah besar wang, iaitu dari hasil cukai yang dikutip dari rakyat, untuk cuba ‘menutupi’ sebarang kepincangan didalam sebuah projek besar yang tidak diurus dengan betul.
Rakyat sememangnya mempunyai hak untuk mengambil tahu jika wang kutipan cukai mereka telah disalahgunakan oleh pihak kerajaan!
#42 by lopez on Monday, 11 May 2009 - 11:05 pm
it is not how no good your are now, but more like it how useless you have always been…..M SEE hair
#43 by ALLAN THAM on Tuesday, 12 May 2009 - 11:26 am
Dear YB Kit
While Perak fiasco has something to celebrate since yesterday high court ruling, but I hope the issue of PKFZ will not be easily forgotten.
Today I wish to highlight some financial data that was available from SSM search by just paying RM15.00 per search.
One of the actor in PKFZ, Kuala (K)
Based on filing with SSM, K has created 18 charges since 1995 to 1998 with Sabah Development Bank and even with Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Berhad totaling to RM862,600,000.
From 2004 onward further 10 more charges was created with mainly OSK trustee Berhad as Trustee for the Bond Holder in total of RM7,590,000,000, of which RM4,365,000,000 was for the bond ( I believe this is consistent with the news report so far).
From the new report the bond was make possible simply with the MALAYSIA GOVERNMENT guarantee.
Now the interesting thing was that with the creation of the last 10 charges in 2004, all previous charges created earlier totaling to RM862,600,000 has been fully satisfied. In other word the debts valued to RM862,000,000 has been fully settled.
Now the PKFZ was conceptualized in 2002. That mean the previous charges created therefore the debts of K before 2002 was for other business purposes.
The fact that some charges was under Danaharta mean that THIS Company was in the same boat as all those company who need Danaharta ?? We all know those go to Danaharta are those companies with financial distress and need financial assistance? What this mean? K was a company under Danaharta ? and yet mega project was awarded ? YB Kit you may have the answer?
Interesting fact was with the Bond issue all previous debts amounting to RM862,600,000 was fully settled???
Any one with some accounting common sense will smell some fishes Right??
We all know that PONZI SCHME is illegal and criminal. Those found operate PONSI can be charge with criminal act. As MAMAKTAIL commented, PKFZ was not criminal in nature but morally wrong. NOW, let put this question to you, YB Kit. What is the difference between PKFZ structured product and PONZI SCHME. Both end milking out the victim money. The only different was that under PONZI the victim is direct and this PKFZ victims who were made out of the Malaysian Tax payers are indirect, but the result is the same. Both cases the victims suffered financial losses. Right?
For those who still believe in PKFZ as a normal business deal? Think twice. It is not difference from PONZI scheme where from very beginning it was conceptual with clear intention to impute financial losses on the tax payers, and benefits from there on.
Could this be how the 800million become fully settled with this PKFZ structured product coming in? You be the judge.