Ling thanks Dr M, wants Cabinet's PKFZ minutes declassified

Ling thanks Dr M, wants Cabinet's PKFZ minutes declassified

All Roads in Malaysia leads to a paradise called Kerala

Mahathir and Ling

Malaysia Chronicle

UPDATED In an attempt to best defend himself against cheating charges, former Transport minister Ling Liong Sik has asked for Cabinet papers including the minutes of meetings related to the Port Klang Free Zone to be declassified.

His lawyers have also sought to transfer the case from the Putrajaya sessions court to the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

“Ling needs the Cabinet papers to clear his name. If the Cabinet minutes are declassified, it would make his job much easier,” PKR strategic director Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

"But the chances of that happening may not be that high. However, he can still verbally expose all those who were also pulling the strings behind the scenes and let the government explain."

Thank you, Dr M

Meanwhile, Ling told reporters he was thankful to former premier Mahathir Mohamad who has said he would testify for the former MCA president if asked to.

Ling being helped down the stairs by his son

"Thank you very much. That is very generous! He was chairing the Cabinet meeting then. I'm being charged with cheating the whole Cabinet, including him. So all those witnesses are very important. If they were cheated, then I'm guilty. If they were not cheated, then there is a trial," ," Ling told reporters on Friday.

He also declined to comment when asked by reporters if he could have been a scapegoats for other government leaders in the PKFZ debacle.

On July 30, in a move that stunned the nation especially the Chinese community, Ling was arrested and 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 for the PKFZ project at a price of RM25psf on a deferred payment method for a 15-year period, at a 7.5 interest rate.

According to the charge sheets, Ling did not tell the Cabinet the Finance Ministry had already valued the land at RM25psf inclusive of compounded interest, which would have saved the government a whopping RM720 million.

The charge carries a maximum seven years’ jail or a fine, or both, upon conviction. Ling also faces an alternative charge, under Section 417, of cheating the government by misleading the Cabinet on the land acquisition for the same project. Under the alternative charge, he is liable to a jail term of up to five years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

The 67-year old Ling is one of the most prominent politicians to be nabbed in recent years. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail of RM1 million. The next mention date has been fixed on November 30.

Who is next?

The PKFZ is the Malaysian government's biggest port investment and was mooted during Mahathir's administration. It is also the biggest flop in a long list of failed or ailing government-projects that have been slammed by anti-corruption activists through the years.

One of the worst financial debacles

PKFZ began in the early 2000s at an original budget of RM1.9 billion, but this has ballooned multiple folds due to glaring mismanagement and alleged graft. Its auditor has warned that if its debt is not revamped, interest charges alone could boost the final bill to RM12.5billion.

An investigation into the financial debacle has shown that the project's massive cost overruns were due to high-level corruption. PKFZ overseer PKA blames Kuala Dimensi for the problems and is suing it for RM1.4 biliion. Kuala Dimensi is controlled by Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing, whom many in the political circles regard as being a "money bag" for Umno.

Meanwhile, Ling's lawyer Wong Kian Kheong told the court the defense needed the Cabinet papers and minutes to build their case. Currently, the documents are guarded under the Official Secrets Act 1972.

He also asked for permission to interview witnesses in the presence of the Investigating Officer.

"We need to declassify the documents in order to prepare the necessary defence arguments. I am applying for an early mention date as my client is a retired minister. He has also been a long-serving public servant," Wong told a packed court room.

There is widespread speculation that more arrests will follow Ling's but so far no 'big fish' has been hauled in by Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration.

However, reliable sources told Malaysia Chronicle that after Hari Raya, at least one more prominent former leader will be arrested - this time from Najib's own Umno party.








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