We wish to respond to the statement by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, in the local media today (Friday 20 November 2009) on Port Klang Authority should consider the suggestions of the Ad Hoc Committee on Corporate Governance. On behalf of Port Klang Authority’s Board of Directors I would like to report  the following.
 
The Port Klang Authority (PKA) Board of Directors in our meeting yesterday (19 November 2009) has accepted the recommendation of the Honorable Tan Sri Mohd Sidek to implement at PKA the suggestions made by the Ad Hoc Committee on Corporate Governance. This will be done with the assistance of Datuk Paul Low, President of Transparency International, Malaysia who is also the Chairman of the Governance Ad-hoc Committee on the PKFZ Project set up by PKA. Furthermore Datuk Paul Low who sits in PKA’s Board in an advisory capacity has been asked to present further details at PKA’s next Board Meeting in December for us to embark on initiation of these recommendations.
 
In addition to this, Y.B. Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, the Minister of Transport, Malaysia has also directed PKA to organize a seminar on Corporate Governance together with Transparency International Malaysia sometime next year. This seminar which will be officiated by Y.B. Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and will involve all the Port Authorities in Malaysia. Relevant industry players will also be invited to participate in this event.
 
With regards to the appointment of independent and non-executive members on the PKA Board, we already have one independent Director thus far, Datuk M Rajasingam, who was formerly the General Manager of PKA from the years 1991 – 1997. In this capacity, we are currently seriously seeking to fill two more positions on PKA’s Board with appropriate candidates who have the relevant expertise, invaluable knowledge and experience that will play an important role towards improving our role in the industry.
 
Other initiatives that will be undertaken at PKA are :
 
i)                    The strengthening and beefing up of PKA’s internal audit section. Currently PKA is on the look out for suitable candidates for this purpose.
ii)                   Implementation of the whistle blower policy.
 
 
PKA’s Board is committed carrying out our role and fully welcome the mechanisms that are designed to enhance PKA’s efficiency, credibility and corporate governance.
 
Thank you.
 
DATO’ LEE HWA BENG
Chairman