Tiong's jets 'frozen' by police

(Malaysian Mirror) - Police have frozen the two private jets owned by Wijaya Baru Sdn Bhd, a corporate source informed the Malaysian Mirror today.

The two aircraft, a Learjet 60 (registration no: N729LJ) and a Gulfstream IV (registration no: N7799T), are registered with Wijaya Baru, the parent company of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) which is embroiled in the multi-billion ringgit Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) fiasco.

Police have also started investigations into alleged financial irregularities of the companies in relation to the PKFZ contract.

Malaysian Mirror understands that Bukit Aman made the decision to ‘freeze’ the two jets today in order to facilitate investigations.

Transport business crippled

‘Freezing’ the aircraft means that the two jets are now in the custody of the police.

This will cripple Wijaya Baru’s air transport sector as it is believed that the company only has the two aircraft for its charter services.

The Learjet 60 and Gulfstream IV are valued at between US$15-US$30 million depending on the specifications.

However, Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan could not be contacted at press time for confirmation and comments.

Malaysian Mirror learnt that he was out horse-riding which must be what the doctor ordered after his recent heart surgery.

On Sept 18, KDSB was sued by the Port Klang Authority (PKA) for RM720 million, a sum which the contractor allegedly overcharged for the PKFZ project.

PKA chairperson Lee Hwa Beng, who is the plaintiff on behalf of PKA, said that PKA is seeking a declaration that interest charged on the balance purchase price of the land purchase was wrongly imposed.

He said KDSB had sold the land to PKA at RM1.088 billion at the rate of RM25 per square foot on a "special value" basis in addition to interest being charged.

Biggest financial scandal

The PKFZ scandal is said to be the nation’s biggest financial fiasco to date.

Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat has declared his desire to get to the bottom of the matter and to bring those responsible to book.

And the man in the centre of the storm is Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing who is also CEO of KDSB. He is now said to be fighting on many fronts for political survival.

On Sept 8, Prime Minister Najib Abdul established a super task force headed by Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Sidek Hassan, to investigate the PKFZ scandal.

"The task force is to probe the PKFZ scandal and those people who were responsible for it," said Najib.