Wee quizzed

Wee quizzed by MACC over PKFZ fiasco
Terence Fernandez

PUTRAJAYA (Feb 2, 2010): Deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong spent 3½ hours being quizzed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today on matters regarding the activities of a consultancy firm he co-owns.

Wee Ka Siong

It is understood that while the questioning was more on the business activities of Hijau Sekitar Sdn Bhd, the probe is also part of the MACC’s wider investigations into the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) issue.

At least two MACC officers entered Wee’s office in Presint 1 here at 9.30am and left at 1pm carrying files of documents with them.

According to a source, although it has been established that Hijau Sekitar did not do any work with regards to the free zone, the commission was acting on a report lodged by Seremban MP John Fernandez on Jan 26, where he said Wee should be investigated for alleged impropriety because of his company’s links with PKFZ turnkey contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB).

KDSB is a subsidiary of Wijaya Baru Sdn Bhd which had, in 2005, commissioned Hijau Sekitar to do an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and other studies with regards to the development of a third port.

theSun front-paged a report yesterday that in the midst of the unravelling of the PKFZ fiasco, the Transport Ministry had agreed in principal in 2006 to the development of another port spanning Pulau Carey and Pulau Indah.

Wee said he is giving his full cooperation and that he even gave copies of documents to the officers.

The MACC had last month introduced a gag order on its officers and the media from discussing on-going investigations.

"I have nothing to hide and will assist the authorities in any way they wish," he said, declining to elaborate because of the on-going investigations.

Latest company records show that Wee owns 49,998 shares in Hijau Sekitar, with company directors Lim Kit Siong and Wong Woon Ping holding 50,001 shares and one share, respectively.

Meanwhile, Port Klang Authority (PKA) chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng said plans for a third port never materialised.

"Yes, there was a proposal under the previous management of the PKA but it never took off. From what I know, the studies for the third port never got beyond the discussion stage," he said, when contacted.

Lee said it was an inappropriate time for the PKA to even think of going into another mega-development project when it was still reeling from the financial disaster of the PKA, which had ballooned from an initial cost of RM1.8 billion to a projected price tag of RM12.5 billion.

" No, no third port. Not under my watch," he said. -- theSun