A member of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has questioned the ‘lesser charge’ brought against former transport minister Chan Kong Choy in relation to the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.

kamaruddin jaafar kamaruddin jaffar Kamaruddin Jaafar (right) , who is Tumpat MP and PAS central committee member, pointed out that whenever high-profile BN politicians have to face the music, the charges are usually light.

“I’m curious as to why (this is so. It was the same) with (former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd) Khir Toyo and (former finance minister) Nor Mohamed Yakcop’s political secretary,” said Kamaruddin when contacted.

“It has become a pattern now with high-profile cases. BN politicians are charged - if ever charged - under laws which seem to have the lightest sentence.”

Chan was charged on Monday with three counts of cheating , which carry a maximum sentence of five years' jail on each charge or a fine, or both.

T NONE his was despite the PAC having recommended, after an inquiry, that Chan (left) be investigated for criminal breach of trust (CBT), an offence that carries a maximum 20-year jail sentence, with whipping and a fine.

Kamaruddin also fingered the government for what he perceives to be window-dressing in such cases.

“The prosecution (comes) directly (under the jurisdiction) of the government. So there’s obviously an attempt to appear to be taking action (by charging Chan).

“But it is still not necessarily sending a message that we are taking a strong stand against corruption.”

‘We don’t have power’

Despite his colleague’s critical view, PAC chairperson Azmi Khalid said the bipartisan committee does not have the power to interfere with investigations or prosecution.

azmi khalid “The PAC has done its job and we have passed it to Parliament. We let the government decide what it wants to do,” he said.

Asked about the PAC’s call to probe Chan for CBT, Azmi (left) denied that it was an “actual recommendation”, saying the committee had merely “pinpointed the anomalies”.

“The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission also has to investigate. We have no power to investigate, so it is up to them to investigate and come up with a decision. Let the court complete its process,” he said.

Azmi then turned melancholic, reminiscing about Chan’s fate, his former colleague in the cabinet prior to 2008.

“It is sad to see my colleague like that. Personally, it’s not something I would like to do,” he said, without elaborating.

PAC deputy head Tan Seng Giaw - the DAP’s Kepong MP - said he hopes the court will be fair and impartial in handling the case.

Asked to comment on the charges of cheating against that for CBT, he said: “I’m sure there must be a reason for doing that.”

Another ex-transport minister, Dr Ling Liong Sik, will also be tried for allegedly 'misleading' the cabinet over the PKFC project.