A Short Story

Today , I shall tell a story about a friend of mine who made it rich in the consultancy business . You see , this friend of mine is a very talented person , happens to know a lot of company directors and CEOs . At the same time he also happens to know a lot of political contacts including Government Dept heads and even Ministers .
One day a businessman came to see me hoping I could help him . I ask him Mr Tio , what's your problem ? He reluctantly sat down and told me his problems . He said I need your help to get a license for me to open a club with 50 jackpot machines .

I said , oh that shouldn't be a problem , I know a friend a certain Mr Lim who knows practically everyone in the Government including the Minister who would be able to approve it . So a meeting was set up to introduce the two of them and I left .

Later on I was to be told by that businessman that my friend , the Lim guy asked for one million ringgit to get the license approved from the Minister . His rational was that the minister wanted 20000 ringgit for each jackpot machine approval and the amount was one million for 50 jackpot machine approval . He gave him the money in cash to be forwarded to the Minister .

It sounded a straight forward request to the businessman who didn't mind paying for something which he could earn back anytime . What he the businessman didn't know is that the Minister is totally unaware that his name has been used in this transaction . All the while our businessman friend had the impression that the money was for the Minister but our friend Lim took the businessman for a ride . We know where the money went to , into his pocket . He couldn't deliver his part of the deal . His contacts could not deliver as the Ministry concerned has stopped issuing jackpot licenses .

It was only found out when his license was not approved and he went to the media accusing the Minister of receiving his kind donation of one million . Not knowing anything that transpired, the Minister had to do what needs to be done , sue the businessman for a sum of 50 million ringgit for defamation and slander .

This story has no implications or reference to any living person dead or alive .

However doesn't it sounds all too familiar ? What I later knew of my friend Lim is that he resigned from his job and went overseas for a holiday or in hiding ? Perhaps he afraid the triads would get him and chained him up like what the alongs did to two guys as the businessman has very good connections with the underworld and is reputed to be a taikor in one of the states in West Malaysia .

Meanwhile











The port community in Port Klang was surprised by the entry of little known Lim Thean Shiang who was handpicked by Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat to head Port Klang Authority after the March general elections as Port Klang Authority's general manager in June this year.


Coming to a post that has traditionally been reserved for long-serving government employees, Lim was worried of only two things - the acceptance of PKA employees and the port community.

"They (PKA staff) were sceptical of me, because I was from the private sector and therefore had doubtful management skills," Lim quipped.

He said direct and indirect feedback gathered has been very encouraging.

"I feel that they have taken to my management style. I believe in empowering the staff, have them chair meetings, make decisions... it's a new culture for them."

Lim was only to resign from his job as PKA General Manager with hardly a year in service .


Lim’s resignation linked to PKFZ’s slow growth
The Star , Tuesday May 26, 2009

KLANG: The slow pace of improvement at the Port Klang Free Zone as well as breach of confidentiality have been cited as the key reasons which led to the resignation of Lim Thean Shiang (pic) as PKFZ Sdn Bhd executive chairman and the port authority’s general manager.

Lim, who was hired to make improvements to the Port Klang Authority (PKA), apparently did not bring in a substantial number of tenants although he had been on the job for almost a year.
The occupancy rate at PKFZ remains at 14% and the port has a long way to go before more tenants could be convinced to take up leases.

His resignation comes in the wake of his unauthorised briefing of government backbenchers even before the Cabinet was briefed on the audit report on PKFZ.
Ironically, Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing’s company, Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, was the turnkey developer of PKFZ.

Lim’s action was said to be viewed by Transport Ministry officials as insurbordination as the Prime Minister and the Cabinet were not privy to the report yet nor had they deliberated on its contents at that time.
The general perception was that PKFZ’s performance was far from satisfactory and that a stronger team needed to be in place if the port authority was seriously considering improving its financial position.

It is believed even before Lim’s resignation, there was already talk that he might be removed due to his unauthorised action which ministry officials regarded as highly serious.

Lim’s resignation from both posts had been accepted by PKA chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng and endorsed by the board on Thursday.

His resignation would take effect on June 5. His critics said the lobbying for him to stay by certain quarters might have been orchestrated.
It was reported that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission had started investigations into the PKFZ report.

Sources said the project would swell to RM7.5bil, partly due to interest costs over a 20-year period. They also said there was a lack of governance of the project.