OC Phang, a woman of many firsts
OC Phang, a woman of many firsts

Oi has been charged with CBT in connection to the PKFZ scandal. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 — Datin Paduka Oi Choo Phang, or better known as OC Phang in the corporate world, is the first woman to be appointed general manager of Port Klang Authority (PKA), spanning from September 1997 until June 2008.

In September 2006, she took over as executive chairman of Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ), a subsidiary of PKA.

The mother of three also historically became the first woman and Malaysian to be elected president of the International Association of Ports and Harbours in its 52-year history, from May 2007 until April 2009.

Previously, she had been the association’s first vice president from May 2005 until April 2007.

Klang-born Phang served in many other positions in the private sector including that of Northport Corporation Bhd Director.

The University Malaya graduate also served as chairman for Sirim’s Industry Standards Committee (Packaging and Distribution) between 1998 and 2001 and was previously the Chairman for the Asia Pacific Port State Control from 1994 until 1997.

Phang, 63, began her career as an administrative and diplomatic officer in August 1971, before becoming the assistant-secretary of the General Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department.

In 1975, she became the principal assistant-director of the Public Complaints Bureau in the Prime Minister’s Department and in 1978 moved to the Public Works Department as an administrative officer.

Phang made her way to the Ministry of Transport in May 1985, as the under-secretary for Finance, before being appointed as the ministry’s director/under-secretary of the Marine Division in September 1992 until August 1997. — Bernama

More to be charged for PKFZ scandal

By Adib Zalkapli

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 10 — Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail promised today that more people will be charged over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal, with a few more individuals expected to be arrested next week.

He gave few details about the matter except to say that the probe was still ongoing, and that an engineer with Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB), the turnkey contractors for the project, would face unspecified charges in court on Monday.

Earlier today, Datin Paduka OC Phang, a former general manager of the Port Klang Authority (PKA), along with Bernard Tan and Steven Abok, became the first people to be charged with criminal breach of trust (CBT) in the scandal, two years after suspicions surfaced about shady deals behind the construction of the country’s landmark PKFZ.

So far it is unclear if more personalities — such as former transport minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy or Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who controls KDSB — will face any action.

But Gani’s remarks today are likely to give rise to some speculation about their fate.

Phang has posted a bail of RM350,000 after claiming trial to three charges for CBT amounting to RM254 million and will have to surrender her passport on Jan 12 when her case is mentioned. She had asked to delay surrendering her passport as she will be in the United States between Dec 14 and Jan 9.

Both Abok and Tan have also posted bail. The court had set a RM200,000 bail for Abok, who is chief operations officer for KDSB after he was jointly charged for two offences of cheating amounting to RM5.4 million, and Tan, an architect with BT Architect, was given bail of RM250,000 with one surety for charges of CBT amounting to RM122.3 million. Their case will be mentioned on Feb 4.

Tan was also charged with 24 other offences, together with another person who has yet to be arrested or identified.