Is Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi about to perform his first 'mega-bailout' since taking office in 2003, asked Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang.

Come the next parliamentary sitting starting Aug 22, the Finance Ministry would have to answer if the government would, or was in the process of, bailing out the troubled Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ), he said.

Lim said questions on the matter had already been submitted to the Finance Ministry.

The opposition leader would be seeking answers as to why the RM4.6 billion ringgit project, riddled with allegations of malpractices and astronomical cost overruns, were not checked despite warnings from both the attorney-general and auditor-general.

"It is most regrettable and irresponsible on the part of both the finance minister and transport minister that they had maintained a deafening silence despite many disturbing reports in the past two months about the scandal," Lim said in a statement today.

The PKFZ - modeled after the highly successful Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai - was conceptualised as the region's hub of choice for the export and transhipment of manufactured goods.

Heads must roll

It was financed by the Port Klang Authority, a government agency, and run by former high-ranking politicians. Despite the heavy investment, PKFZ is presently unviable and resembles a ghost town .

Lim said those responsible PKFZ's outcome must be held responsible and even brought to court if necessary.

"Heads must roll for the RM4.6 billion scandal before any bail-out for the mega-scandal can be contemplated by cabinet and Parliament," he added.

Lim urged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also finance minister, to put an end to the "culture of impunity" seen in previous mega-bailouts which preceded the present administration.

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