2 theSun | FRIDAY AUGUST 21 2009

PUASA TIMES news without borders

PERLIS Break Fast 7.17pm
Imsak (tomorrow) 5.42am

KOTA STAR Break Fast 7.17pm

Imsak (tomorrow) 5.42am

PENANG Break Fast 7.17pm

Resolve PKFZ dispute amicably: Muhyiddin
Imsak (tomorrow) 5.42am MUAR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wants both par- RM4.6 billion. “It’s not for me to teach them ... they are
ties to a dispute over the Port Klang Free Zone The Port Klang Authority has lodged a police grown-ups and also leaders of political parties,”
KUANTAN Break Fast 7.17pm (PKFZ) to resolve the matter amicably. report after a task force set up to investigate he said, adding that he would not stop any party
The deputy prime minister said quarrel- the issue found billing discrepancies of between from proceeding with any action because it was
Imsak (tomorrow) 5.42am ling openly would not only affect the Barisan RM500 million and RM1 billion involving Kuala their right to do so.
Nasional’s chances in the Permatang Pasir Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB), the turnkey developer He also said that the PKFZ controversy was
KUALA Break Fast 7.17pm state by-election but also mar the image of the of the project, and BTA Architects, the project’s a major issue which had attracted attention as
TERENGGANU Imsak (tomorrow) 5.42am government and its leaders. development contractor. well as caused public speculation.
“It’s better for them to resolve the matter KDSB chief executive officer Datuk Seri Muhyiddin said community leaders should
KOTA BARU Break Fast 7.17pm amicably,” he said after visiting Bukit Kepong Tiong King Sing had meanwhile claimed that take the cue from government leaders and carry
town and meeting residents yesterday. he donated RM10 million to the MCA through out their own “walkabout” sessions.
Imsak (tomorrow) 5.42am
PKFZ, an integrated 400ha free commercial its president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat last He said that the approach was not just about
and industrial zone adjacent to Port Klang year. meeting the grassroots, but also helping them
IPOH Break Fast 7.17pm which houses facilities such as a warehouse, Ong denied the claim and said he would take resolve problems.
Imsak (tomorrow) 5.42am buildings and a four-star hotel, is embroiled in a legal action against Tiong. “If we can continue to do this, the people will
controversy after it was revealed that its cost of Muhyiddin said he would leave it to both be convinced of our resolve to help them,” he
PETALING JAYA Break Fast 7.17pm development has shot up from RM2.5 billion to leaders to sort out the matter. said. – Bernama
/SHAH ALAM Imsak (tomorrow) 5.42am

KUALA LUMPUR Break Fast 7.17pm

PAC: Something strange

/PUTRAJAYA Imsak (tomorrow) 5.42am

SEREMBAN Break Fast 7.17pm

Imsak (tomorrow) 5.42am

MALACCA Break Fast 7.17pm

JOHOR BARU

KUCHING
Imsak (tomorrow) 5.42am

Break Fast

Break Fast
7.17pm
Imsak (tomorrow) 5.42am

Imsak (tomorrow) 5.42am
KOTA KINABALU Break Fast
Imsak (tomorrow) 5.42am
www.islam.gov.my/portal/puasa.php
7.17pm
in bond issued by KDSB
by Giam Say Khoon Khalid noted that the bond was issued “This is the part that we feel is strange
newsdesk@thesundaily.com by KDSB, a private company that had which should be decided by a court of law
7.17pm
entered into a contract with the govern- should there be a legal suit,” he said.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Public Accounts ment to develop PKFZ. Azmi explained that the government
Committee (PAC) said yesterday it had He said the government could still must pay the bond holders, who were
found something “strange” in the bond claim the money back from KDSB should domestic and foreign investors, because
issued by Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) it be found not fulfilling its obligations or by failing to honour the payment, Malay-
turnkey developer Kuala Dimensi Sdn as a result of alleged irregularities involv- sia’s bond rating would be affected.
Bhd (KDSB). ing the company to the extent of between “We raise bonds all over the world
Speaking to reporters after a briefing RM500 million and RM1 billion. and the government does not want Mal-
by Port Klang Authority (PKA) chairman However, the government still had to aysia to be affected internationally as it
Datuk Lee Hwa Beng, PAC chairman pay RM660 million annually to the bond can still settle the dispute with KDSB.”
Datuk Seri Azmi holders whether or not the developer had He was of the view that govern-
delivered 100% of the work. ment bonds should ideally be issued by
“If there is an overclaim, the govern- government agencies, unlike the KDSB
ment can claim the money back from bond which was recommended by the
g ...
Jalur Geml stilafafnat a Fly the Jalur Gemilang
KDSB, but it still has to pay for the bond government through four letters of sup-
because the money has been taken by the port issued by former transport ministers,
unci by
Ipoh City Co was officiated developer through the bond,” Azmi said. which some parties argue were letters of
sterday which year’s campa
ign
campaign ye idi Hash im. This guarantee.
sh
BERNAMAPIX

k Ro w .
Mayor Datu rmance No “There is a difference of about half a
le First, Perfo
slogan is Peop billion ringgit in interest when the bond
was raised by KDSB and this is what
we are looking at,” Azmi said. “It is not
concluded yet and I do not want to say
anything more.”
He said the PAC would support any
action taken by the PKA over the PKFZ
scandal. Azmi also said a report by a spe-
cial task force on the PKFZ was not given
to PAC members as it is confidential to
the PKA board.
PAC members would be briefed by
a KDSB representative next week and
former PKA chairman and PKFZ execu-
tive chairman Datin Paduka O.C. Phang
within the next two weeks.
“We hope to visit the PKFZ again as
quite a number of tenants have moved in
and we would like to see it first-hand to
have a better perception,” Azmi said.
Azmi said the PAC planned to complete
the inquiry by early next month. Earlier,
Lee briefed the committee for two hours
on the report by the task force.

Ong to sue Tiong for defamation

by Tan Yi Liang
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: Transport Minister Datuk Seri
Ong Tee Keat said yesterday he would file a defa-
mation suit against Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong
King Sing over an allegation that he took a RM10
million loan from Tiong.
Ong made a police report against Tiong on Aug
13 and said he would take legal action if Tiong did
not withdraw the allegation within seven days.
However on the same day, Tiong, who is the
chief executive officer of Port Klang Free Zone
(PKFZ) turnkey developer Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd
and chairman of the Barisan Nasional Backbench-
ers Club, not only refused to withdraw the state-
ment but also challenged Ong to sue him.
“I have not forgotten what I said earlier that
is in order to clear the lies, I will bring this case
before the courts. As promised, I will,” Ong said.
“During the past several days, I have noticed
that the accuser who made wild accusations has
been wavering in his remarks, describing the so-
called RM10 million allocation from a loan, to a
donation. If you want to make such accusations,
don’t say it is a loan. It is not, as I have taken no
loans,” he said.
“At the same time, I was made to understand
he couldn’t be sure of the quantum he mentions.
The quantum had gone up from RM2 million to
RM6 million, to RM8 million and finally RM10 mil-
lion,” Ong added, denying that the dispute was a
personal one.
“This is not a personal matter or fight. It is far
from it. I don’t have any personal dealings with
him. The PKFZ dealings were not personal.
“I never made allegations against him in his
private capacity. But when he made such a serious
allegation, do you think I should be quiet and avoid
making public statements? That is not me.”
Ong, who spoke to reporters after officiating
the signing of a memorandum of understanding
between Portman College and the Technical Re-
source and Internship Network at the Mines here
yesterday, declined to say when the suit was to be
filed. “You know I mean no nonsense, now is just
the beginning of the day. We are going to do what
is necessary. Be a little bit more patient.”
On the finding by a special task force on the
PKFZ of fraudulent claims for RM1 billion, he said:
“It is not my allegation, but the findings of the
special task force.
“Whatever is thrown at me, I will continue to
stick my neck out when I say that I will bear all the
risks relating to the PKFZ issue which affect the
public. This RM1 billion is something we cannot
be silent about.”
“The rakyat want to question your credibil-
ity and integrity. I am just saying what is public
knowledge,” Ong said.