From PKFZ to 1MDB: Task forces that fell flat on delivery

After an audit report on the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) was published in 2009, no less than six high-powered task forces were set up.

One of them, headed by the late Vinayak Pradhan, investigated the issue diligently and comprehensively and submitted a report to the Transport Ministry with its findings and recommendations.

Notwithstanding this, the then-prime minister announced the setting up of a “super task force” headed by the then-chief secretary to the government to address what was then described as “seriously dealing with issues” arising from the PKFZ audit report.

Rumours were rife at that time suggesting that this group was set up merely to protect some “heavyweight” names contained in the report.

The findings (if they were any) of these task forces must be gathering dust in a steel cabinet somewhere in Putrajaya.

Subsequently, all those charged with various offences including two ministers were acquitted, but the short-lived saving grace was that Port Klang Authority general manager OC Phang was found liable.

In 2018, the Shah Alam High Court found Phang responsible for 11 of 15 purported breaches of duty alleged by the Port Klang Authority (PKA).

Subsequently, it directed her to pay PKA damages assessed at RM2.644 billion plus nearly RM210,000 in costs - sums PKA did not receive given that she had been declared bankrupt and she was reported to be cooling her heels in Canada.

Then, there was a task force on 1MDB in 2015 comprising then-attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, then MACC chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed, then-inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar and former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

Abruptly, the task force was disbanded within less than a year and it was not heard off until last month when Zeti testified in Najib Abdul Razak’s 1MDB trial.

Zeti testified that the central bank played a supporting role while the law enforcement agencies had a major role in looking at 1MDB, saying: “The ultimate aim was looking into whether 1MDB had committed any wrongdoing and recoveries of the monies.”

Over the years, so many task forces were set up at great expense to be followed by silence.

Add to these, there were numerous cabinet committees whose work and findings suffered the same fate.

Former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz

But name-dropping of the cabinet committee in the past involving the controversial Brickendonbury sports project in England did not work.

One of those involved, in trying to contain the negative stories threatened the editor and barked: “Do you know this is a government project? This was approved by the cabinet and you are working against national interests.”

Previously, there were such task forces on foreign workers, to ensure 5G coverage, to investigate cases of uncollected revenue from car imports, to combat fake news and even to probe bullying in government hospitals.

But how many of them produced reports which provide solutions to the problems?

If there is a book of dubious records, surely Malaysia will feature as the country with the most task forces that do not produce results.

“Task force” and “cabinet committee” have been, most of the time, buzzwords when some controversial issue comes to the fore.

It was and continues to be not so effectively used by the government to defuse potential “hot potatoes”.

Public not buying it

When weaknesses or services fall short of expectations in a government department or agency, their magic word, “task force” comes into play as if it will stem the rot or increase efficiency.

Those occupying the seats of power think they have solved the problem or stalled calls from various parties to end the hardship or inconvenience suffered by the citizens.

Many think this would give the public a sense of assurance that the government is taking the issue seriously.

However, in many cases in the past, it was folly to attempt to pull the wool over their eyes.

The next time a minister announces the setting up of a task force, take it with a kilogramme of salt. It is just a quick-fix answer when pressure is mounting on some issue or the other.

Note that there is no deadline to submit reports and when asked, the answer would be obvious - work in progress.

Shouldn’t Joe Public make a hue and cry about it?

Why not? After all, taxpayers are paying for the teh tarik and the kuih muih while members sit around an oblong table periodically and just talk with no intention of producing a report.

Or should there be yet an “overarching” task force to ensure other task forces produce reports and results? - Mkini

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R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who writes on bread-and-butter issues. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.