Liong Sik-PKFZ: A huge gamble for Najib, all trails lead to Dr M

By Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

There is no getting away from it. However you look at the Port Klang Free Zone debacle, all trails go back to former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who was also the finance minister.

A day after his shock arrest, the charges preferred against Ling Liong Sik, the former Transport Minister who had helped push through the huge project, seem to be deliberately crafted so that his lawyers can have them overturned with ease.

The 67-year old was charged under Section 418 of the Penal Code for misleading the Cabinet between Sept 25 and Nov 6, 2002, into agreeing to buy 999.5 acres of land on Pulau Indah at a price of RM25psf on a deferred payment method for a 15-year period, at a 7.5 percent interest rate.

The charge sheet went on to say the Finance Ministry had already valued the land at RM25psf - inclusive of compounded interest - and this fact was withheld from the Cabinet by the accused. The difference comes up RM720 million. Ling was therefore charged for cheating.

The PAC factor

Yet at last year’s high-profile inquiry conducted by the Public Accounts Committee, former secretary-general of the Transport Ministry Zaharah Shaari went on record to say that the land acquisition was done with the full knowledge of the Cabinet.

How can this be? Firstly, the PAC study showed the government would have spent RM442.13 million and saved RM645.87 million if the land for PKFZ was acquired in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act 1960.

Secondly, according to Zaharah, Ling knew about this and agreed with the Treasury secretary-general to buy the land in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act 1960.

Thirdly, the matter was then referred back to the Cabinet and Ling briefed Mahathir about it. Mahathir, who ruled Malaysia with a fist of iron for 22 years, has kept a conspicuous silence on Ling's arrest.So too has his successor, Abdullah Badawi who continued the project after Mahathir resigned in 2003.

“The Cabinet then decided to acquire the land but when the central agency did not agree and gave its views, the Cabinet, if I am not mistaken, told the ministry to delay its decision to buy the land directly from Kuala Dimensi until a different decision was made," was Zaharah's testimony in the PAC verbatim report.

“I think after that the Cabinet agreed to its original decision to buy the land. I think based on that final decision, the ministry went ahead to allow PKA to purchase the land on that decision."

Ultimately, Ling's case will hinge on who is telling the truth and already, Zaharah's testimony casts enough reasonable doubt to have the case thrown out.

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Comments (18) Add Comment

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written by lakian, August 01, 2010 02:35:48

two arrows together also serve nothing,one arrow rebund can kill najib flat.remember mamakuty knew everthing about altantuya.anyway the episod is geting more and more exiting.bn there you are!

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written by truthbespoken, July 31, 2010 14:19:29

This PKFZ action on Ling is a veiled warning from Najib to Mahathir to stop his political inference. Mahathir has so far remained quiet even though he had been explicitly implicated as part of the corrupt party to Ling's alleged illegal actions. Being the former PM and Finance Minister in charge, there is no way he can absolve his accountability by keeping quiet. He is probably just plotting before Najib's return. He is waiting for Najib's return! Once started, the battle is difficult to avoid. It has begun in earnest!

However, if I were Najib, I would not have stopped short at using Ling as a platform to warn Mahathir. It won't work with half measures for this old man. I would also dig out the Lingam-gate affair and revive the case. Must shoot at least two arrows at one time at this vile one to increase the chances of success.
Must also make sure your judges ensure he cannot forget so easily this time!

The Lingam-gate issue should bring faster results which is crucial to the battle. Otherwise, the old one will have much time in between to launch a counter-attack and create Najib's quick downfall, again with Brutus's help. This scenario had happened before, with Sleepy Head ultimately surrendering himself. What say you, Najib? Better fight good if you want to fight at all. Mahathir need to be taught an unforgettable lesson. This is politics after all.

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written by Fart Fart Wah, July 31, 2010 11:35:59

correct ,correct ,correct..it looks like ling ling sheok, sounds like ling ling sheok. the shit he is in now smells like ling ling sheok's but this time really smelly...but I can't remember ...if it is ling ling sheok......

in lingam's case he said he can't remember 14 times...... smilies/grin.gif

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written by pixieface, July 31, 2010 11:19:42

There you are, whenever there are billions involved, toon mamak name comes out again.
Didn't someone mentioned he's MR . 10 %.
Hey eebrahim ali, why so senyap. Cat caught your tongue ???
Toon is definitely the 'devil's advocate. Why should he care about our malaysia ?
After all, his origin is kerala right ???

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written by davidquellsgoliath, July 31, 2010 10:39:10

All roads lead to the Marmak not just to Rome.
Pure & simple but nothing is more truthful than this.
The facts are as clear as daylight.

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written by educationist, July 31, 2010 06:22:39

"If this turns out to be another charade, then he[Najib] would really be slamming the door on himself. "- oh! come on , the writing is on the wall.
As the writer so aptly put it, the charge has been so worded that Ling's lawyers can easily overturned it!!
It is another shadow play!!
How can the UMNOputras be serious about weeding out corruption.
Look at the number of unresolved scandals involving him from the time he was Defence minister!!
Is he willing to come clean himself???

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written by budak kampong, July 31, 2010 05:24:56

PERKASA a bit quiet ah? By your computation, 67% your money kena tipu tau?

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written by antares, July 31, 2010 03:44:40

Just a show case juicing up BeNd coming up GE13. Tooooo mannnnny penyangak involve! Luit pun dah tak tau mana pergi! samynajisc4 and tun mamakthir are busy wring the script for Guni Petai and MCCA. Sampai mampus aku tak cayo sebab bolehland serba boleh!

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written by Buayanegara, July 31, 2010 03:39:19

Come on Najib fry that mamak and get him and his family off your back . Then get them to return every sen they (including their cronies) stole and maybe the
RAKYAAT will believe you.

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written by onnetline, July 31, 2010 01:36:47

When that pariah racist ex_Dicktator, Toon Mahatahi@Mahakhinzir does go Court to testify anything, he will conveniently slip into amnesia and goes like ..............' I can't remember this ' or ' I can't remember that '.
But to-date, he is willing and able to recall or re-quote a lot of past incidents during his tyrant rule with ease.
............ a typical lying bastard & hypocrite !

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written by lynn, July 31, 2010 00:48:59

This PKFZ fiasco consisted of three parties :-
(a) the govt incl. PM Dept, MOF, Min of Transport
(b) Port Klang Authority
(c) Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd

So far, charges had been filed against 4 accused from PKA, 1 "culprit" from Min. of Transport but...... KDSB? Semuaok.

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written by eloofk, July 31, 2010 00:37:51

Hey Father of Corruption,

Dont tell us that you cant remember this big scandal!!

When BN/UMNO is overpowered in the next GE, you and all those corrupted judges and the corrupted AG that has been protecting you and all your cronies will be put on trial before the people's court to be tried for TREASON!!!

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written by Pegasus, July 31, 2010 00:25:31

Everyone doubt it, it just like another sandiwara or stage play show which will end nothing good for the public concern, it time we change the government as everyone including myself is tired of barang naik antics which more like circus clown show!

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written by Oscar Winner, July 31, 2010 00:19:53

Syd, the money is now in the pocket of thieves. Pls, these thieves are not Robinhood. It's so naive and ridiculous to think they rob to finance TAR campus. If at all it was used to finance TAR campus, the then govt would proudly channel the fund to that project and win the hearts of voters, instead of going through the PKFZ scam, as suggested by you.

Anyway, the trail leads to Ibrahim Ali, too. Perkasa is for him to defend himself and Tun Mamak. I hate to repeat this, but I have to, just to cut stories short. Whatever said and done by these thieves is just to prevent being sent to jail,PERIOD.

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written by tom73my, July 31, 2010 00:17:40

Another Kasitah Gadam wayang. Please lah Najib, use a new trick, this one has been used 6 years ago by sleepy head.

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written by budak kampong, July 30, 2010 23:49:52

This reminds me of the saying 'rotten to the core'. Except in this case, the core is rotten to start with.

In the proverbial rotting apple, it takes some time for the rot to grow and we can remove the rot and save the core. In this case where the core is rotten, we can only slavage whatever is left of the flesh and discard the core.

Throw out BN and we can at least salvage something.

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written by IbnAbdHalim, July 30, 2010 23:12:05

As I said before, in the end the case will be thrown out and AG will declare NFA. By right the whole cabinet has to take full responsibility. By the way, why only charge a few? What about the others, especially the then finance minister himself? Oh! I forgot. He said he didn't take a sen when he was PM for 22 years. Of course he's right. He didn't take a sen but.......millions perhaps?

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written by syd, July 30, 2010 23:03:29

" all trails go back to former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who was also the finance minister."

Yessss!!!! hang him, cut his hands off so that nobody could lick it again.

But the reality, they probably used the ill gotten gains to finance University TAR in kampar and chinese chinses schools which are not funded by the govenrment. Then it makes sense.

BN/UMNO is so scared of the extreme mamaly warlords, they use clamdestine methods to help other races. We shall see the outcome of this trial.