Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today continued its probe on the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project by querying former Transport Minister Chan Kong Choy.

NONE Chan, who is also the former MCA deputy president, was the only witness to appear before the committee today.

He was questioned by the PAC members from 10.50am to 1.30pm.

He was seen entering the PAC inquiry with a box believed to be holding relevant documents, accompanied by a lawyer and two assistants.

When approached by reporters as he left the meeting, the former minister said: "I've nothing to say. I'm a retired man".

Evasive Chan

Talking to reporters after the meeting with Chan, PAC chairperson Azmi Khalid said that Chan "evaded some questions but he tried his best to answer".

He added that Chan, who was unwell, was responsive and cooperative.

Azmi also said that the probe centred on the letters of support given by the then transport minister to PKFZ, adding that former transport minister Dr Ling Liong Sik had given one such letter and three others came from Chan.

However the PAC chief said these letters were not letters of guarantee by the government but were merely opinions of the duo.

NONE "Renowned legal experts have given their views on the matter. We have differing opinions. We are not the authority to decide. It would depend on the others.

"This is just a general overall view and it is important to get input from other parties as well," he said.

He further said that they would be calling Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail on Aug 12, former transport ministry secretary-general Zaharah Shaari on Aug 13 and also other former PKA and ministry officials later.

"They need to explain clearly how decisions have been made and give their rationale," he said.

He said that the PAC hoped to wrap up their probe in time for the next Parliament sitting in October.

He said that the PAC will then forward recommendations to the MACC and also government agencies on what they need to focus on.

Azmi also said that based on the PAC's findings so far, the PKFZ management came across as "very incompetent".

His deputy Dr Tan Seng Giaw added that PKFZ lacked transparency, accountability and did not follow procedures

Ling, Ong had been questioned

mahathir global perdana war crimes forum 050207 ling liong sik On July 15, former MCA president Ling (right) had appeared before the committee. Ling was the transport minister from 1986 to 2003.

A day later current party president and Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat appeared before PAC.

Chan took over as the transport minister from Ling and he was succeeded by Ong after the general election in March last year.

PAC is investigating the PKFZ scandal, as the cost of setting up the transhipment hub had ballooned from an initial RM2.3 billion to an incredible RM4.6 billion.