January 05, 2010

The Star

PKA adopts whistle-blower policy to tackle abuses in PKFZ

The Port Klang Authority (PKA) board will implement the whistle-blower policy in the PKA and Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) to curb corruption and other abuses.
 
Its chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng said the decision to adopt the policy was approved by the board on Dec 16, after a suggestion from the ad hoc committee on corporate governance.
 
“The PKA internal auditor will be picked as appointed representative to carry out the policy and a whistle-blower committee will be formed,” he said in a statement yesterday.
 
Lee said that the committee members would comprise the audit committee chairman, PKA internal auditor, PKA law advisor and PKA Fire and Rescue Department manager.
 
“A briefing session by the internal auditor will be held in the middle of this month to inform PKA and PKFZ staff about the implementation of the policy,” he said.
 
The whistle-blower policy is to encourage employees with knowledge of fraud, corruption, negligence, abuse of position or other acts to report the matter.
 
The PKFZ controversy arose after the cost to develop the 400ha integrated cargo distribution hub spiralled from RM2bil to RM4.6bil.
 
Last month, former PKA general manager Datin Paduka O.C. Phang, PKFZ contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd’s (KDSB) chief operating officer Stephen Abok and architect Bernard Tan Seng Swee of BTA Architect were charged with criminal breach of trust and cheating amounting to about RM380mil.
 
Former Kuala Dimensi project director Law Jenn Dong was charged last month with making 24 fraudulent claims totalling RM116.85mil.
 
On another matter, Lee said the board had also agreed to put forward the proposal to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat for the appointment of two independent non-executive board members.
 
“Datuk Ng Mann Cheong is a lawyer of more than 30 years experience and sits on the boards of Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad and AmTrustee Berhad while Nik Mohd Hasyudden Yusoff is Inovastra Sdn Bhd CEO and former president of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants,” he said.

      
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