Karen Arukesamy
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR (March 21, 2011): In less than 10 days, some of the 28 past directors of the Port Klang Authority (PKA) could be walking free as the Limitation Act would have excused them from any civil action with regards to their involvement in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.
The Act excludes officials of statutory bodies from civil action due to economic loss, after six years.
With the March 31 deadline looming – after previous board meetings which approved the additional works at inflated costs that brought the PKFZ bill to over RM12 billion – at least a dozen directors are expected to escape.
This is if the PKA does not initiate civil suits against these individuals soon.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Chor Har, when met at the MCA extraordinary general meeting last week, could only muster a smile when asked if these former directors would be let off the hook.
Former transport minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said there was a recommendation to sue the ex-board of directors when he was in office.
“When I was minister, I gave PKA the decision-making power in the case and did not influence nor interfere in its decisions.
“At that time, they wanted to proceed with the civil suit but I do not know what transpired after my time,” he said after launching a community project "Wheelchair for Poor Patients" by Pudu Rotary Club today.
Ong said normally the decision whether to sue or not is up to the current board of directors, yet PKA must follow instructions of the Transport Ministry.
“I am not sure if this is the minister’s decision or not,” he said.
When he was the minister, Ong had promised to bring to book all those responsible for the scandal .
PKA general manager Kee Lian Yong and chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng declined comment.
However, it is understood that the current board is waiting for one of the directors to seek his own legal counsel before deciding on endorsing the decision to sue the past directors.
A final decision is expected to be made by the board next week.
Updated: 09:55PM Mon, 21 Mar 2011
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR (March 21, 2011): In less than 10 days, some of the 28 past directors of the Port Klang Authority (PKA) could be walking free as the Limitation Act would have excused them from any civil action with regards to their involvement in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.
The Act excludes officials of statutory bodies from civil action due to economic loss, after six years.
With the March 31 deadline looming – after previous board meetings which approved the additional works at inflated costs that brought the PKFZ bill to over RM12 billion – at least a dozen directors are expected to escape.
This is if the PKA does not initiate civil suits against these individuals soon.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Chor Har, when met at the MCA extraordinary general meeting last week, could only muster a smile when asked if these former directors would be let off the hook.
Former transport minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said there was a recommendation to sue the ex-board of directors when he was in office.
“When I was minister, I gave PKA the decision-making power in the case and did not influence nor interfere in its decisions.
“At that time, they wanted to proceed with the civil suit but I do not know what transpired after my time,” he said after launching a community project "Wheelchair for Poor Patients" by Pudu Rotary Club today.
Ong said normally the decision whether to sue or not is up to the current board of directors, yet PKA must follow instructions of the Transport Ministry.
“I am not sure if this is the minister’s decision or not,” he said.
When he was the minister, Ong had promised to bring to book all those responsible for the scandal .
PKA general manager Kee Lian Yong and chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng declined comment.
However, it is understood that the current board is waiting for one of the directors to seek his own legal counsel before deciding on endorsing the decision to sue the past directors.
A final decision is expected to be made by the board next week.
Updated: 09:55PM Mon, 21 Mar 2011
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