The government has given the go-ahead for the controversial Port Klang Free Zone audit report to be released in its entirety, said Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat.

“The cabinet today has deliberated on the PKFZ report for the third time. I have finally obtained the green light for the report to be released in its entirety,” said Ong in a blog posting today.

“I am very glad that the prime minister and my cabinet colleagues share my aspirations that our government should be transparent and directly deal with the issues of the day. Sweeping problems under the carpet is not an option.”

Malaysiakini had reported last year how the project, originally tagged at RM1.8 billion in 2002, ballooned to RM4.6 billion. Recent reports have estimated losses up to RM12 billion.

The project has been mired with serious conflict-of-interest breaches between top officials of the port authority supervising the project and executives of private companies, who are in turn key politicians in the ruling BN government.

Port Klang Authority chairperson Lee Hwa Beng said that he would be calling a press conference at 3.30pm tomorrow to reveal the report.

Fought a long and hard battle 

Ong appeared jubilant in finally getting the cabinet approval after being attacked by the opposition for not being able to deliver on his promise to bare all.

“The PKFZ issue has been played up by the opposition for a few years and they have used it as their political capital.

“We now have to disappoint them by proving to the public that the new administration under our prime minister has nothing to hide and is prepared to reveal the truth as well as to take appropriate action should there be any wrongdoing.

Ong, who had vowed to that the public should know the truth about the PKFZ scandal last April, suggested that he had fought a hard battle in his quest to get to the bottom of the controversy.

“It has been a long journey for me personally. It is one that is fraught with challenges and hurdles both from within and without,” he said.

“That journey does not end with the release of the report, which I have now directed PKA to do so as soon as possible, once everything is in order.

“We have a lot of work to do to make sure that the findings of the report are acted upon and the interests of the people are protected.”

Journey littered with controversies

The weeks leading to today’s decision to release the report – an independent audit done by PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) – have also been littered with controversies.

There was the sudden resignation of the man tasked to clean up and salvage the troubled free-trade zone – Lim Thean Shiang, the PKA general manager and PKFZ chief executive.

It appeared that his resignation was linked to a “secret briefing” he gave two weeks ago to certain BN backbenchers on the yet-to-be-released report.

PKA was also unable to meet the May 6 deadline, which was set by Ong for the report to be released.

Just before the deadline, PwC, which was commissioned by PKA to prepare the report, sought indemnity from the port authority because the release of the report may result in lawsuits from parties who may claimed defamation.

Last Thursday, PKA announced that it could provide the indemnity letter after seeking legal advice, but said that final decision rests with the cabinet.

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