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Absent-mindedness
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Absent-mindedness can refer to three very different things:
- a low level of attention ("blanking" or “zoning out”);
- intense attention to a single object of focus (hyperfocus) that makes them oblivious to events around them; or
- unwarranted distraction of attention from the object of focus by irrelevant thoughts or environmental events.
Pua also wants probe against Ling
FORMER transport minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik should also be investigated for his part in the Port Klang Free Zone (PFKZ) scandal, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya) said yesterday.
Pua, who made the call following the release of the PAC report on the fiasco last week, said Ling had displayed "selective memory loss" during his testimony to the committee.
He said the former MCA leader had answered "I cannot remember" or its equivalent at least 11 times when posed with certain key questions regarding the project, "which raised doubts as to the veracity of his replies".
"The situation even reached a point of incredulity when PAC deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong) asked: ‘Tun, did you know of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd or KDSB (the PKFZ turnkey developer) before you left the ministry?’ and Ling responded with ‘I may have heard about it’," Pua told reporters at the Parliament lobby.
"We felt a bit bizarre over his answers."
He said an investigation must be conducted on the role Ling played in the project.
The former transport minister had denied the ministry had any role in the finalisation of the land purchase agreement with KDSB, and placed the responsibility with the Finance Ministry, which was headed by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2001 and 2002.
But Pua said the testimonies of government officers and the letters by the Valuation and Property Services Department contradicted this.
He said they had confirmed it was the Transport Ministry which had repeatedly asked for the value of the land to be revised from RM17 to RM25 a sq ft without interest, when the Treasury had not authorised any revision in the purchase price.
The ministry had allegedly either defied a Treasury order dated June 12, 2001, and advice from the attorney-general for the land to be acquired compulsorily or strongly argued against doing so in securing the cabinet approval for the project, he said, adding that Ling must explain the matter.
Pua also said Ling had issued a letter of support for the project in 2003. Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail had informed the PAC the word of the government was worth its weight in gold, hence even if the letter did not specifically contain elements of guarantees, the government was obliged to honour its word, he said.
PAC chairman Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid: Would you recall ... There was a point where it was mentioned that even RM25 (per sq ft); it was still viable in terms of …?Ling: It is a little complicated ... To pinpoint exactly when, where, how and why, I think it is a little bit difficult.
Selayang (PKR) MP William Leong Jee Keen: Tun, just for clarification. You were saying that you identified 1,000 acres and that you need to have it … Are you saying that this is the only 1,000 acres in Pulau Indah or were there also other available pieces of land if the price is too high ...?
Ling: What I meant was this was one piece that was offered to us. Whether there were other pieces, I really do not know.
Kapit (BN-PBB) MP Alexander Nanta Linggi: ... can you remember at what stage the project was implemented up to the point when you left the ministry?
Ling: ... it was May. That’s the last thing I remember of that project because you (I) have nothing else more to do with it.
Azmi Khalid: At that stage when you left, what stage was the development? ...
Ling: I really wouldn’t know.
Leong: Tun, according to the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Report in 2001, the cabinet decided that the project would have to be self-financing ... Wouldn’t it be cheaper for PKA to have gone through the process of their government guaranteed bond?
Ling: Was it during my time? Did I sign anything to approve that action? (Ling reiterated that the approvals for the land acquisition had to go through the right processes and the right agencies.)
Leong: That is my point, in the due process, when it came to your ministry’s table for you to also make a decision, do you recall this issue?
Ling: Is there evidence that it came and that happened?
Kota Belud (BN-Umno) MP Datuk Abd. Rahman Dahlan: Tun, are you aware that there were other options to finance the land acquisitions. Are you aware that there was a cheaper way of doing things?
Ling: I can’t remember.
Azmi Khalid: KDSB as the developer only needed a capital to develop the site and it could have been raised either through the government guaranteed bonds or through their own channel. My question is, was the ministry informed of any of the decisions?
Ling: I really can’t remember.
Kepong (DAP) MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw: Tun, can you confirm that the idea (PKFZ) was conceived actually before 1999 ...?
Ling: I am not sure.
Tan: You’re not sure huh?
Ling: I am not sure because I became a minister in 1986 and anything that happened after 1986, of course like you (I) cannot be sure (to) pinpoint (if) it is 1987, 1988, no, I must apologise, I cannot remember.
Tan: Leading to the time on May 28, your last day, you said that a letter was handed, who wrote that letter for you?
Ling: I can’t remember but I remember I signed the letter that was passed to me.
PJ Utara (DAP) MP Tony Pua: Why were there no competitive bid (apart from KDSB) and what was the strength of KDSB ...?
Ling: Frankly, I cannot remember those details. I would like to know myself but there must have been certain grounds.
Pua: Tun, is it the usual process to award to a single contractor or is it (usual) to have a competitive open tender? ...
Ling: I am not prepared to comment because I really cannot remember the circumstances.
Tan: How many times did you visit Jebel Ali?
Ling: You know, I cannot remember but I visited Jebel Ali at least once.
Pua: As a matter of record, are there any benefits which under KDSB and its owner Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and the group of companies like Wijaya Baru Sdn Bhd ... which you have taken? Example flights or entertainment?
Ling: Nothing at all that I can remember.
Tan: Tun, you said you have heard of KDSB. During your time, was there any attempt by KDSB to develop the infrastructure of Pulau Indah?
Ling: I cannot remember.
Tan: Tun, did you know that the bonds would be issued?
Ling: I may have heard of it but…
Tan: You could not recall.
Ling: No. No.
Azmi Khalid: The bond was issued after your time. Am I right?
Ling: The only possible connection was through that Letter of Support which we gave a reply after due consultation with the secretary general and legal officers.
Tan: Were you aware that in 1999, the cabinet made the decision that it (PKFZ) should be self-financed when they approved that RM1.9 billion (loan) for that project?
Ling: Did they ever approve that RM1.9 billion?
(Source: www.thesundaily.com)
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