PUTRAJAYA: Investigations into the Port Klang Free Zone project has gone one step further — the Cabinet has set up a task force to look into two aspects — whether the project was carried out in line with good governance and its future direction.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that the task force would be headed by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan and would include Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, officers from the Transport Ministry and also professionals.
Najib said the Cabinet, which discussed the PKFZ issue at its weekly meeting yesterday, decided to divide the issue into three aspects.
He added that apart from the two aspects to be looked into by the task force, the other was to determine whether there was abuse of power, any wrongdoings or violation of law.
The third aspect will be investigated by the police.
“This is the responsibility of the police to investigate and for the Attorney-General to decide (on the findings and the next course of action) later.
“On the issue of PKFZ, the truth is very important. The Cabinet wants a full and detailed investigation,” he told reporters after breaking fast with Cabinet Ministers and senior government officials.
Najib said on the good governance issue, the task force would have to determine if it had been practised from the early stages of the project.
“We also want the task force to propose what we should do with the project and what can be done in the future so that we can maximise (its) value for money and reduce cost to taxpayers.
“Once we have the report from the task force, the Cabinet will study it and determine the next course of action,” he said.
He said the task force, which was expected to have its first meeting after the Raya, had not been given a specific time frame to conduct its findings.
He added that task force members knew the urgency of the matter and the report should be tabled to the Cabinet as soon as possible.
To a question, the Prime Minister said if there was abuse of power, action would be taken regardless who the individuals were, but he stressed that the authorities would have to look deep into the case to determine who was responsible and how serious the violations were.
Asked if the Cabinet was “minimising” Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s role in the case, Najib said that was not the purpose behind the setting up of the task force.
“Why should I? We are in the same government. Don’t try to split (us). We all stand together. He (Ong) will not be in the task force but the ministry’s representatives are,” he said.
The Prime Minister also denied the move to set up a task force meant that the Government was taking the issue from the Transport Ministry.
“The (earlier) report done by the ministry will be considered by the task force but because this is bigger than the purview of the Transport Ministry, it is only appropriate that the Chief Secretary chairs the task force. This is to underscore the Government’s seriousness on the matter,” he said.
Najib said that investigations conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the police would continue.
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