PORT KLANG: Just days after the Port Klang Authority (PKA) made a decision to withdraw its RM720 million suit against Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB), its chairman Tan Sri Kong Cho Ha has gone on long leave.

Kong’s office confirmed to The Edge Financial Daily that he is currently overseas  and is only expected to be back next month.

Kong had been criticised for putting the brakes on any more probe into the Port Klang Free Zone when he was transport minister.

It is understood that the PKA’s lawyers Skrine & Co had explained that the acquittal of former transport minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik for misleading the Cabinet had a bearing on the strength of the case.

It is believed that the suit against KDSB will be withdrawn on Dec 2, when it comes up for mention at the Shah Alam High Court.

Meanwhile, former transport minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said he was not surprised by the PKA’s move to withdraw the suit.

“What to do? I have to respect their decision but I have to hide my feelings on this matter. I am no longer in a position to do anything about it,” he said when pointed out that the suit started during his tenure as the minister.

Former PKA chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng was livid.

“Why not withdraw all the suits? Don’t waste time and effort,” he said, adding that all criminal charges against civil servants and executives of PKA and KDSB should also be dropped.

“It’s only fair. You drop charges against two ministers you should also drop charges against others,” said Lee, referring to criminal breach of trust actions against PKA ex-general manager Datin Paduka OC Phang, KDSB chief operating officer Stephen Abok and project consultant Bernard Tan.

The PKA still has another suit pending against KDSB on additional work agreements as well as consultant BT Architect and Phang for breach of fiduciary duties.

He also asked if KDSB would in turn drop defamation suits against him, Ong and auditors PriceWaterhouse Coopers.

KDSB’s parent company is Wijaya Global Holdings Sdn Bhd, whose largest shareholder is Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on November 26, 2014.