The 'real story' behind the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal is one of ruling Barisan Nasional leaders sharing the spoils of a mega-project into which national resources have been pumped.

Or at least, this is PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's reading of the situation, which he describes as a betrayal of the people.

He said the main characters in the story include national and local Umno leaders, a Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party politician, and a former MCA parliamentary secretary.

"(They) illustrate the mismatch between the supposedly earnest intention of the government to do the right thing and the sorry reality that it can ill-afford the cleansing process that this would entail," said Anwar in a statement today.

He was commenting on the controversy that has erupted following reports that the cost of establishing PKFZ has ballooned from an initial RM2.3 billion to an incredible RM4.6 billion.

The government's agreement to approve 'in retrospect' the project cost overruns and the decision to reject an opposition motion to debate the matter in Parliament illustrate a regular theme that runs throughout the BN-led administration, he said.

In addition, there are claims that the project has suffered from political interference and conflicts of interest and questionable land purchase , among other irregularities.

Anwar reiterated PKR's call for an independent commission to investigate and identify those liable.

Meanwhile, a recent report by the London-based Financial Times suggests that disclosure of PKFZ troubles raises doubts as to whether the government can fulfil its promise to build and operate two big economic zones.

It was referring to the Iskandar Development Region) in Johor and the Northern Corridor Economic Region involving four states in the north of the country.

"There is scepticism about whether the government will be able to implement these projects and Port Klang shows why," a regional economist for Citigroup was quoted as saying.

SPECIAL REPORT: Poser over mega 'ghost town'