Wednesday 8 July 2009

PKFZ:前人留下的烂摊子


林吉祥向翁诗杰一日三问,大概已发了上百道的问题,至今仍然问不出一个头绪来。

上周,港务局原本议决暂缓一笔届期的6.6亿元付款,但在财政部的指示下改变初衷。

财政部的意见是:如果不付款,将会影响对国家私人债券市场的信心。

根据报导,港务局必须在今年七月底前,把款项付给KDSB的4家公司。

港务局主席李华民透露,已经在周一付款3.6亿元,并将在本月尾再付3亿元。

港务局为何不付又付?主要还是因为前两任交通部长所发的4封支持信(letters of support)。

虽说政府部门不可发这样的支持信,只有财政部才有这样的权力,但那也要先经过内阁的批准。

但是,交通部门毕竟还是政府的部门,它代表的是政府的信誉,既然已经发出了有关支持信,政府岂可反悔?此例一破,以后谁还敢相信大马政府的信誉?

相信财政部乃基於此理,而指示港务局付款。

林吉祥亦透露,虽然有关4封支持信不合法,内阁却在两年前以追溯的方式核准了那4封信。

也因有内阁的核准,在财政部的指示下,港务局不得不付款。

那4封信中,第一封是由林良实签,其余3封由陈广才签。

事发後,陈广才曾经表示,他不知道原来交通部长是没有权力签这种信的。

那他为什么会签?

因为之前有林良实签了,他以为OK,也跟着连接签了其余3封。

不明白的是,难道在签发这类信件之前,部长没有先征询部门法律顾问之类的吗?

财政部担心不付款会影响市场对国家私人债券的信心。

实际上,根据The Edge报导,大马债券评估机构(MARC)已将与PKFZ有关的“AAA”及“MARC-1/AAA”债券评级(debt rating)调至负面观察(MARC Watch Negative)。

可见,就算港务局改变初衷,不付又付,但为时已晚,因为此举早已大大影响相关债券的评级了。


走笔至此,让我想起,翁诗杰的处境,与林冠英十分相似,他们所面对的情况,都是前朝人物所留下的烂摊子,却要由他们去收拾残局。

10 comments:

Chu Kong Ming (朱刚明) said...

That's why anyone can be a Minister in this country.

You can pretend you know nothing and just make any blunders as you like.

When queried, or caught, pretend you're ignorant and act innocent. You'll be scott free after some 'investigation' because the 52 years old 'reputation' can not be tarnished.

Eventually, one decisive word from the authority can 'neutralize' all the 'crimes' you'd supposedly 'committed'.

Then, please enjoy your 'easy' retirements after all these years of dumbness and silence loyalty.

Life goes on.

Fair仔 said...

生活还是要继续,但当投票的时候,请一定要投对!

近朱者赤 said...

康华,

Wow! I do not know how the rating works but MARC should have revised the rating down when the scandal came to light a few years ago. Anyway, god knows who has the biggest bite.

I am still curious why people clean sweep the ASB, it looks to me more like a Ponzi scheme. Anyway, it's buyers' own choice.

Botak said...

說良心話, 翁詩傑是倒楣. 怎麼人家做交通部長風風光光, 袋袋平安, 他就捅了個蜜蜂窩? 不如拿着全部證據, 投向民聯, 名垂千史.

Super Saiyan 3 said...

我覺得翁詩傑在這件事上也犯了官官相衛的錯誤。

我覺得這是挺悲的。多有才華的人站到了那個高位,都突然顧全大局犧牲公義。

· 康華 · said...

刚明兄,Is Chan Kong Choy ignorant or acting innocent? Only he would know. I know nobody will be held responsible at the end of the day.

Fairnation,我觉得,如果人民没有“政治醒觉”,民主将被滥用,人民将被利用,政客打着民主的大旗,巧取豪夺,你奈得他们何?

· 康華 · said...

chchoo,

When I was with the banks, government guarantee was rated 1st class, ie the government would always honour payments which it guaranteed. That's understandable because the government cannot afford to default, if it does, that means the country is in trouble.

So in this case, MARC did not downgrade earlier based on the "Letters of Support" by the 2 then Transport Ministers (the Letters were endorsed or ratified later by the Cabinet anyway).

MARC downgraded it this time only when the payment were delayed.

· 康華 · said...

Botak & Saiyan3,可能他太讲义气了吧?

Anonymous said...

I have a different view on this issue. I don't think it is wrong for finance ministry to pay. As government can not break the contract signed. If not, who dare to take government project in future.

· 康華 · said...

Anonymous,

That's what I meant in my article, the Government is bound to honour payments. But the delay has already affected the rating of the bonds.

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