2 theSun | FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4 2009

news without borders

PKFZ business turnaround plan

ready in 2 months
by Giam Say Khoon
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KLANG: Port Klang Authority (PKA) general
manager Kee Lian Yong (pix) yesterday an-
nounced that the Port Klang Free Zone
(PKFZ) business turnaround plan would
be ready in two months after securing the
support and approval of the stakeholders.
Kee, who replaced Lim Thean Shiang in
July, said although there were
issues and challenges faced
by the project, more so dur-
ing this period of financial
crisis, he believed there
were ways to reposition and
transform the project.
He said notwithstanding
the setback faced by PKFZ
during its developmental
stage, “we believe that
the government’s original
aspiration for the project
to provide an attractive
investment environment for
manufacturers and other
businesses will generate
cargo for Port Klang as well as developing
the port into a regional distribution hub and
a trade and logistics centre”.
“PKA has initiated a financial restructur-
ing plan and a revamped business model
and the authority will work aggressively to
engage all relevant stakeholders, including
government agencies, to seek their struc-
tural support.
“However, I cannot reveal the turna-
round plan at the moment because as a
statutory body, we have to go back to the
government (before the plan can be imple-
mented),” he told a press conference.
Kee said the issue of the authority being
an ineffective one-stop centre would be
addressed to ensure a competitive envi-
ronment to attract investors.
Asked if the financial restructuring plan
would include loan restructuring with the
project’s turnkey developer Kuala Dimensi
Sdn Bhd (KDSB), he said it could be part
of the whole scheme as a financial plan
would usually cover all angles.
On whether PKA would consider an
earlier redemption of KDSB bonds as
suggested by the developer last week to
reduce the project cost from the current
RM4.6 billion to a minimum
of RM3.2 billion, Kee refused
comment but said the author-
ity would deal with the issue at
an appropriate time.
He said among the new
initiatives to be undertaken by
the authority are to:
» Register all necessary
logistics services providers op-
erating in Port Klang to ensure
efficiency and cooperation;
» Monitor the performance
of port terminals to ensure
compliance on efficiency in
performance and activities
rendered at Port Klang are
consistent and on par with international
standards;
» License all direct port activities and an-
cilliary services within the port as PKA has
taken steps to license and regulate private
jetty operators and have so far approved
20 operators based on merit; and
» Enforcing security and safety within
the port limit and pilotage district as PKA
has upgraded the vessel traffic manage-
ment system with automatic identification
system as well as installing scanners at
strategic locations.
Kee said a strategic port masterplan
would be ready in six months to map out
the direction of Port Klang for short and
long-term planning, including a review of
future developmental plans and strategies.
Tee Keat quizzed
by MACC on PKFZ
by Husna Yusop
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PUTRAJAYA: Transport Minister Datuk
Seri Ong Tee Keat recorded his statement at
the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
(MACC) yesterday on the Port Klang Free
Much of it Zone (PKFZ) issue and the allegations against
touched on him by Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
personal Ong, who is also MCA president, said he
was called by MACC to assist in investiga-
details, tions and he had given his full cooperation
background willingly.
of the “We had a lengthy talk on PKFZ and the
case and allegation by Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd CEO
(Tiong).
chronology “Much of it touched on personal details,
of events. background of the case and chronology of
There were events. There were also some relevant ques-
also some tions regarding the issues,” he told reporters
after the meeting.
relevant Ong was seen entering the MACC
questions headquarters together with his political
regarding secretary Simon Lim at 10am and emerged
the issues.” at 1.15pm.
Asked why he was not accompanied by
his lawyer, he said: “I don’t need a lawyer.
– Tee Keat Why do I need a lawyer?”
He said he had made it clear from the
beginning that he was prepared to give his
statement to the MACC should it need any
information on PKFZ and Tiong’s allega-
tions.
He said this was the first time he was
called in by the MACC and was willing
to go again if MACC wants additional
information.
Last month, Tiong who is also Bintulu
MP and BN Backbenchers Club chairman,
claimed he had given Ong RM10 million in
cash instalments as donation for the party’s
activities.
Ong denied receiving the money and
threatened to sue Tiong if he did not retract
the allegation, which the latter refused to do.
On Aug 13, Tiong was reportedly quizzed
by the MACC for more than four hours over
the PKFZ scandal and his allegations against
Ong.
Ong also declined to comment on sacked
deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi
Lek’s claim that his supporters have amassed
more than the required 800 signatures from
party central delegates to requisition an ex-
traordinary general meeting (EGM).
Bernama reports that in a posting on his
blog, Ong said his decision to call for an EGM
is to prevent a split in the party.
“After the last ballot is counted and a
verdict reached, the party can return to its
rejuvenation and renewal process, with little
impact on the MCA,” he said.
Ong also hit out at the campaign to collect
signatures from delegates, saying: “Going
round the country collecting signatures from
delegates to call for an EGM means forcing
them to make a stance. If they sign, that
means they are in support of a particular
leader and if they don’t, that means they are
backing another one.”

PKA board kept in the dark

over project, PAC told
by Tan Yi Liang “The management told the board what they
newsdesk@thesundaily.com wanted the board to know. The board asked for
further information but most of the requests were
KUALA LUMPUR: The Port Klang Authority (PKA) ignored by the management, or the information
management refused to divulge any information was given late,” he added.
on the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project to “The PAC has to re-examine the management
its board of directors despite requests to do procedures, and what powers were given to
so, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman the management that allowed them to make
Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said yesterday. decisions without first informing the board of
Azmi, who had earlier questioned former PKA directors. The normal practice is that the board
chairmen Tan Sri Dr Ting Chew Peh and Datuk Yap of directors makes the decisions, which are then
Pian Hon, said they found the management had executed by the management,” said Azmi. He
ignored written told reporters
requests by the that the requests
board for informa- for information
tion. had been noted
“Datuk Yap in the minutes of
gave a clearer board meetings.
picture on the “We do not
unwillingness of know what
the PKA manage- powers were del-
ment to give egated, so we will
information to the have to find out a
board of directors. bit more. The man-
The perception agement was led
we got is that the by Datin Paduka
information was O.C. Phang,” he
not given, even added.
when asked for He said the
in writing,” said problem existed
Azmi, who told Yap Pian Hon Ting Chew Peh when Ting was
reporters that key chairman.
decisions were made without the knowledge of “Tan Sri Ting also said that the board only
the PKA board. received information brought up in the agenda
“Some payments made by the board were by the management. What was not brought up
only signed by the management, and many was not discussed. But when Yap was chairman,
contracts and agreements were signed by the the PKFZ issue was already in the media, and
management before the board of directors was Yap and all the board members wanted to know
informed,” said Azmi. more,” said Azmi.

‘Ex-Sri Lankan child soldiers get jobs in Malaysia’

COLOMBO: A group of former
child soldiers from Sri Lanka’s
Tamil Tiger rebels have won
jobs on construction sites in
Malaysia after undergoing re-
training, the government here
said yesterday.
The seven men, aged 19 to 21,
were among hundreds of former
child soldiers who surrendered in
the months before government
troops finally defeated the Tigers
in May at the end of decades of
ethnic warfare.
“This is the first batch of
former child soldiers for whom
we have been able to find jobs
in Malaysia,” Cyril Jayawardene,
a senior executive of the
government’s rehabilitation
bureau, said. – AFP