AUTHOR'S NOTE

WHEN journalists expose any comission or ommission by a public authority which at its best can be described as “not following procedures” and at its worst “criminal”, the powers-that-be seem to take it lightly for reasons better known to them.

When people carry out tasks without any respect for the system and thrive on the brittle moral fabric of bureaucracy and the political masters who facilitate it, it paints some interesting scenarios including the inadequacies of the system. Financial scandals leave a trail of stink and affected parties usually make attempts to cover them up. The saga of the Port Klang Free Zone is one of many that fall into this category.

Over the years, most Malaysians have gotten the impression that acts of negligence and callousness, spiced up in some cases with corruption, are the result of a lack of conscience; they bitch about it for a few days and then forget about them. When another act or omission makes the front pages, the same routine continues.

Perhaps, some members of the Fourth Estate are equally culpable. Couldn’t I, having known about the financial trouble of the Port Klang Authority as way back as 2004 have continued to harp on the issue and could that have prevented more good money being pumped in to chase after bad money? Shouldn’t we as journalists who often pride ourselves as the “eyes and ears” of the people have taken it further than merely exposing it? I don’t know about others, but with all humility, I have to own up and say “Guilty as charged”. But before passing sentence, there’s a lot to say in mitigation. Two wrongs don’t make a right but couldn’t our lawmakers have created a ruckus in Parliament (as they normally do) after reading the 2003 Annual Report of the Auditor General, copies of which were made available to them? Why were they silent observers as the rape and plunder continued unabated?

Looking back, we have to ask ourselves many questions: Weren’t there enough reports made to the various enforcement agencies which would have warranted immediate investigations? Didn’t these agencies have sufficient powers to peruse documentation and make their findings to the Attorney-General for his views? Why didn’t they move when the signs were already there?

On hindsight, we can look back with regret at the lapses and omissions we made or condoned. We shouldn’t be bolting the stable doors after the horses have left, but the events at the PKFZ are lessons for all of us. It’s no free tuition – every citizen of this blessed country of ours will continue to pay for the mistakes of the few who took advantage of their power and position to dig this sinkhole where our money is being poured in.

This is a book of records – for posterity (for want of a better word. It outlines some of the reasons for the mess we are in; it reflects the conscience of some of the people entrusted with the money; it shows the lack of checks and balances; it exposes the lack of good governance, and above all, traces the events which have led to the biggest financial scandal in the country.

I must confess that this is an instant book. I returned to work after a long absence from the office on Aug 8, 2009, having travelled extensively the previous eight weeks to Hong Kong, Colombo, London, Brisbane and Sydney – in that order. I had kept in touch with friends and contacts via e-mail throughout my absence and had been in the know of what was happening back home through the Internet. Before I left, Terence and I had reported extensively on the PriceWaterhouseCoopers report on the Port Klang Free Zone. And things were beginning to roll.

At breakfast with some of those who were in the loop the day after I came home, one of them suggested that since I had so much material and had done so much work on the PKFZ, I should put them all into a book. On my return to the office, I sounded the idea to colleagues and dropped an e-mail to Terence who was holidaying in London after both of us had finished a course on investigative journalism at the Centre for Investigative Journalism in City University.

Having received the blessings of our Managing Director Chan Kien Sing and Chief Editor Chong Cheng Hai, I decided to go ahead with this project. Two days later, a late night discussion with friends and fellow journalists gave me ideas into what the book should contain. Some of the information for this book was collated from various sources including other publications. (Wherever, possible, they have been identified and acknowledged but there are some whose source could not be traced and hence have not been attributed).

Some of the information came from my “memory bank” and personal notes while the bulk came from the documents that were sourced over a four-year period. Others came from my own sources who have declared that they do not want to be identified and require no formal acknowledgement.

This book contains previously unpublished documents, some of which have been in my possession for more than five years. Except for Terence, no one in the office knew of its existence or its source. Although they were never reproduced in totality, over the years, in my writing for The Sun, I had quoted excerpts in my columns and stories.

These documents explain why the PKFZ failed or couldn’t take-off. These documents record the history of the acrimonious relationship between the two central parties in the development of PKFZ. I have so many people to thank in the preparation and publication of this book. They helped me in one way or another not only on this book but also in the preparation and publication of articles which appeared in The Sun. There are so many that I am unable to name each and everyone one of them. I would be doing gross injustice if I do not mention some very important people.

Foremost is my former editor-in-chief, Ho Kay Tat, who supported me as I went chasing the PKFZ story in the initial stages. He took a lot of flak for the stories that were published under his leadership and for “giving Nades too much freedom!” He warded off “protest” calls and not only encouraged us to pursue the truth but also gave us valuable tips and information which he got from his own sources.

Chong Cheng Hai, his successor continuously supported the chase for more skeletons in the cupboard. His patience wore thin at certain times because of deadlines and comments from our lawyers, but he stood as solid as a rock, always using his skills, patience and perseverance to ensure that the truth was told.

And of course, my partner and friend, Terence Fernandez, who patiently played the role of the “Good Cop” while we chased the PKFZ stories. I do not know how many times I had to drag him for late night sessions with sources in the most unlikely places, sometimes in dingy watering holes away from the hustle and the bustle of the city. Terence and I worked as a team on the PKFZ for the past four years, and hence, the task of editing this book was handed to him.

This handy-work is a fitting a tribute to him for having tolerated me for the past 10 years! (I first met him on July 27, 1999).

But that is nothing compared to my long suffering wife Sharmini who had to put up with me for 25 years! Her sleepless nights, temple offerings and distress calls to my friends on my account are annoying yet endearing! This book is for her, my daughter Vichitra who helps keep me grounded, as well as the spirit of my older girl Sumitra whom I believe continues to frown at me when I stay out too late. I must thank Datuk R. Yogeswaran and his wife June for going through the first draft, making the corrections and giving their input. As both were English Language teachers, they adapted to their new role as copy editors with ease.

I must take my hat off to the many people who provided the dope on PKFZ. I have met some of them and I do not know the identity of others who used Pos Malaysia effectively to communicate with me. They shall continue to remain anonymous for obvious reasons but will forever have my respect and gratitude.

To the readers of The Sun, who continually send words of encouragement and support, Terima Kasih! Keep the e-mails coming! Finally, I take full responsibility for the entire contents of this book.

R. Nadeswaran
1 October 2009