The allegation by former MCA President and former Transport Minister, Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik that he was “wrongly accused” and charged of corruption in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal even before the Attorney-General’s Chambers had obtained sufficient evidence reinforces my call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to get to the bottom of the RM12.5 billion “mother of all scandals”.
In an interview yesterday, Ling, who was acquitted last October, of all charges of corruption in connection with the PKFZ scandal, revealed that he is writing a book about his PKFZ “trials and tribulations” and had decided on the title of the book: “How Low Can You Go”.
Ling said that due to his bad experience, his confidence in the country’s judicial system was shaken.
Ling sounds very self-serving and even hypocritical as he must bear full responsibility for the state of the system of justice in Malaysia today, as he was part of the Mahathir government which precipitated the judicial crisis in 1988 when the then Lord President Tun Salleh Abas and two Supreme Court judges, Tan Sri Wan Suleiman Pawanteh and Datuk George Seah were arbitrarily and unconstitutionally sacked. Malaysia has never yet recovered from that judicial crisis 26 years ago.
Even Tun Abdullah who succeeded Mahathir as Prime Minister had expressed regret and remose for the 1988 judicial assault by the Barisan Nasional government.
Had Liong Sik ever expressed regret and remorse for aiding and abetting Mahathir in 1988 and after in undermining the independence, impartiality and professionalism of the judiciary and the system of justice in Malaysia?
However, if it is true that Liong Sik had been “wrongly accused” of corruption in the PKFZ scandal, and that he had been charged even before the prosecutors had obtained evidence, this is a deplorable and completely unacceptable state of affairs. Liong Sik had suffered grave injustice I am prepared to back him up to the hilt.
In fact, Liong Sik has strengthened my call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry in the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal.
No stone should be left unturned to ensure that Liong Sik and another former Transport Minister Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy should be given justice if it is true that they had been wrongly accused of corruption in the PKFZ scandal.
A Royal Commission of Inquiry is now the only avenue left for Liong Sik and Kong Choy to get justice, even though Kong Choy, according to Liong Sik, had been spared the “hell” and “torture” he had to endure in his own trial.
But even more important than justice for Liong Sik and Kong Choy is the justice for the 29 million Malaysians, who are entitled to know who are the persons responsible for the RM12.5 billion PKFZ “mother of all scandals” and to demand that the real culprits are brought to book – as well as for the country to be freed of the international disrepute and odium of being a “Land of Mega-scandals without criminals”.
Will Liong Sik and Kong Choy support my call for a RCI into the PKFZ scandal if they have nothing to hide so as to get to the bottom of the PKFZ “mother of all scandals”, including why the two former Transport Ministers and MCA leaders were charged by the Attorney-General when there were insufficient evidence of corruption against them?
(Media Conference Statement in Gelang Patah on Friday, 17th January 2014)
#1 by digard on Friday, 17 January 2014 - 6:29 pm
What the heck …!?
Of course, a RCI is principally the right course! – Though, in recent years even this most remarkable and powerful tool has lost much of its sharpness and become rather blunt. Its great and strong lever is the moral side, but it does not carry any formal power. Lingam anyone? The unlawful dishing out of citizenship: Yes, the middle layer bureaucrats concede it DID happen, though on instruction from above; and ‘above’ cannot remember, does not know, and so forth. In the end, everything becomes so fuzzy, that the AG could not draw up any proper papers to bring anyone to justice.
What to expect in the case of PKFZ?? The whole matter started as a puppet play. Including charging the usual culprits: 2 non-Malays. No, I am not racist; I simply trust that colour of skin carries a certain weight, respectively lightness, with it in Malaysia. And the two surely are involved, and everyone knows. Though everyone also knows, that it was neither of the two who initiated all the embezzlement. They couldn’t have done so, even if they had tried hard, without instruction, at least consent; from others. And these ‘others’ are protected and will be protected, always.
#2 by Bigjoe on Friday, 17 January 2014 - 9:07 pm
The one difference between Najib’s administration and those before him is that UMNO/BN is willing to resort to FRUSTRATION of the rakyat to cover up their failures and misdeeds. Its quite clear for a while now, when they can’t really hide it, is to FRUSTRATE the people with excuses, blaming each other and pretending they are not the same party. Everything from the AG, the judiciary, ROS, MACC even state religious authority, councils and comittees, study labs, and even the monarchy are available as counterparties to make frustrating excuses for their misdeeds.
In the view of so many counterparties and avenues for excuses, resorting to any established institutions or parties is simply just another eventual frustration..
#3 by loo on Friday, 17 January 2014 - 9:29 pm
After RCI, then what? It doesn’t really solve the root cause of the problem
#4 by tak tahan on Saturday, 18 January 2014 - 12:09 am
Any better suggestion ?
#5 by boh-liao on Saturday, 18 January 2014 - 1:33 am
WOW, truly MCA style, everything CAN make $$$$ 1
Kena charged n then all charges dropped; now, produce a book 2 sell, sell, sell
#6 by Noble House on Saturday, 18 January 2014 - 4:55 am
Why would anyone gives credence to anything this political shill and a charlatan is a mystery to me. If he merely claim ignorance of the horrible truth about the masters he once served, then he should all that more appropriately called a useful idiot.
He is despised by most of the community he claimed to represent and for good reason.
#7 by boh-liao on Saturday, 18 January 2014 - 7:06 am
Well, he firmly believed dat rakyat will believe in him mah (after all, his name means kind n honest) n buy his book on limbo rock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTKj_Vd5_Bk
If every mca member buys 1 copy, easily can sell 1 million copies lor
Some like d tow-truck gal n d tilam boy may buy more copies what
Top seller in d making
#8 by Cinapek on Saturday, 18 January 2014 - 11:10 am
DR Ling also accuse the AGC of looking down on Chinese leaders. I suppose this is taken to mean that the AGC chose to persecute only the Chinese leaders involved in this scandal. Is his his statement implying there are others of other races also involved? Then he should search his own conscience and come clean on the whole matter and point out all those who are guilty whatever their race or colour. More than 12 billion of the rakyat’s money has disappeared. Someone has to be accountable and it does not matter if it is Ah Kow, Muthu or Ali.
#9 by lee tai king (previously dagen) on Saturday, 18 January 2014 - 12:42 pm
Oh there he is.
Who?
He.
He who?
That rotting fish head you dumb dumb!
OIC.