TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL-MALAYSIA URGES GOVT TO ACT WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- Transparency International-Malaysia
(TI-M) Thursday urged the government not to leave any stone unturned and to
investigate without fear or favour the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) fiasco and
all other cases.

Its secretary-general Dr Loi Kheng Min said all findings and recommendations
by the special task force should be made public and implemented, and prompt
stern action must be taken against all wrongdoers even at the highest level.

"TI-M welcomes and supports the formation of the top-level federal task
force on the PKFZ headed by Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Sidek Hassan
as an indication of the government's concern and commitment to accountability,
integrity and transparency.

"Investigating and redressing the problems in PKFZ are of national concern,
and not only of the Transport Ministry and its minister, as this fiasco has
serious implications for the public, the nation and the international
image of Malaysia," he said in a statement here.

He said TI-M looked forward to good governance in PKFZ and lessons learnt
from the fiasco and measures taken could also be adopted by other government
agencies.

"Current governance rules for government agencies must be revised to take
into account the changing local and international environment and progress made
by other countries, and the public expectation of better accountability,
integrity and transparency.

"There must be systems, procedures and overseeing to ensure that there are
no further abuse of power or misuse of public funds by those who have been
entrusted with power," he said.

The PKFZ project is embroiled in controversy due to its development cost
rising from RM2.5 billion to RM4.6 billion.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that the government had
set up a high-powered task force to look into the controversial PKFZ project.

The task force is made up of the Chief Secretary to the Government,
Treasury secretary-general, Attorney-General and officials from the Transport
and Finance ministries. (US$1=RM3.50)
-- BERNAMA