DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang today challenged the Miri Port Authority's (MPA) threat to sue him over his assertions that the Miri Port in Kuala Baram was a 'white elephant'.

"I await the 'white elephant' suit," said Lim in a press statement today.

"However, the threat to initiate legal proceedings can be no refuge for the MPA or Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister George Chan to evade public accountability," added Lim.

The Star daily reported MPA chairperson Edwin Dundang yesterday as stating that the port authority may initiate legal action against Lim for statements concerning the Miri Port made in his press releases.

According to Dundang, Lim "through his statement, had caused irreparable damage to the port's reputation and caused us to suffer huge losses in business."

"MPA views Lim's statements with serious concern as it is misleading, inaccurate and malicious," Dundang added.

On March 28, malaysiakini reported Lim as saying that the Miri Port was unable to accommodate larger crafts because of siltation and that the state government had "committed a colossal development folly in building the biggest white elephant".

According to him, RM350 million had been used to build the port but due to its present problems a further RM500 million has to be pumped in annually to dredge approximately 16km of the Baram river in order for the port to function properly.

Good impression

Meanwhile, Lim also questioned the appointment of former policeman Zukifli Mat Noor as the new director-general of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).

"As a matter of principle, it is undesirable to appoint a policeman to head the ACA as public complaints against the police for corruption are one of the most widespread," he said.

Lim said although he had made many criticisms against the former ACA head Ahmad Zaki Husin, he regretted the fact that Ahmad's two-year term was not renewed.

"Zaki made a good impression as the ACA chief as he had communicated enthusiasm, commitment and dedication in the very difficult job of combating corruption within the country's very circumscribed parameters," said Lim.

Zulkifli, a former police commissioner of Sarawak, took over Zaki's post last month.