March 24, 1999: Cabinet approves mega distribution hub project in Port Klang (now called Port Klang Free Zone or PKFZ)

2001: Cost for PKFZ, modelled after the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) in Dubai, set at RM1.957 billion.

2002: Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) and Port Klang Authority (PKA) sign deal on Nov 12 in which the former sells 999.5 acres in Pulau Indah to the latter for RM1.09 billion or RM25 psf. KDSB, which is 70% owned by Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, had reportedly bought the land from Pulau Lumut Development Cooperative Bhd for only RM95 million or RM3 psf.

2003: PKA appoints KDSB to develop PKFZ to include office blocks, transshipment facilities light and medium industry facilities and warehouses.

The total project cost, excluding land cost, is estimated at RM1.32 billion.

KDSB in turn appoints Wijaya Baru Global Bhd as main sub-contractor. Both companies are controlled by Tiong.

2005: PKA and KDSB sign supplemental agreement for additional development works, including building a business class hotel. Total contract value is estimated at RM510.38 million, excluding variation order.

Nov 2006: PKFZ was launched but its original cost balloons to RM4.6 billion by the time the project was completed.

2007:

July 18: Dubai-based Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), which was to manage PKFZ, pulls out on July 18, citing "strategic purposes".

Aug 13: theSun exposes correspondences between Jafza and PKFZ indicating the former quit due to red tape, bureaucracy, interference by politicians and those with vested interests, deliberate incorrect minuting of meetings, issues pertaining to the chain of command and even attempts at tax evasion by Malaysian negotiators.

Then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi asks Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy to explain why concerns by Jafza addressed to Chan were not entertained.

Aug 20: theSun reveals that the Transport Ministry had issued four "letters of support" between 2003 and 2006 which were used by turnkey contractor KDSB to raise bonds and get an AAA rating from the Malaysia Rating Corporation Bhd. The documents were, in fact, letters of guarantee which only the Treasury can issue.

Aug 28: Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy denies allegations that PKFZ is a failure. He tells Parliament that since Nov 1, 2006, it had attracted 30 investors bringing in investments of RM725 million and 809 jobs.

Sept 6: PKA general manager Datin Paduka O.C. Phang and officials from the Transport Ministry appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) but PAC chairman Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad is not satisfied with answers pertaining to the project’s financing.

Oct 18: PAC visits PKFZ but again comes away with more questions than answers.

2008

March 25: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim proposes that the state government take over PKFZ at book value of RM1.

May 5: Newly-appointed PKA chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng tells theSun that an independent audit has been commissioned for PKFZ.

June 6: Lim Thean Sheang takes over from O.C. Phang as PKA general manager and executive chairman of PKFZ.

April 29: Following declassification of the independent audit report, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat orders that the PriceWaterhouseCoopers findings be made public in a week. He said he intends to submit the report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commssion (MACC) and PAC.

2009

May 20: Lim Thean Sheang quits amidst rumours that he and Ong are at loggerheads. He is replaced by Kee Lian Yong.

June 10: Ong announces the setting up of a special task force to make recommendations to PKA on how to rectify the wrongs and pursue appropriate legal action in respect of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) audit report.

June 22: Ong tells Parliament that PKFZ's entire project cost could reach RM12.453 billion by 2051 if nothing is done to promote it.

Aug 11: PKA lodges police report over billing discrepancies of between RM500 million and RM1 billion following a task force finding. The report was lodged by PKA chairman Lee against KDSB and BTA Architect over possible fraudulent claims.

Aug 12: KDSB CEO Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing alleges he gave RM10 million to Ong. Tiong is the Bintulu MP, Chairman of the Barisan Backbenchers Club and Treasurer-General of the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party.

Aug 24: Ong files RM500 million lawsuit against Tiong over the RM10 million donation claim.

Aug 26: OC Phang was named, among four parties, as being responsible for the PKFZ scandal in a report lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission by PKA chairman Lee.

Aug 31: The Prime Minister's Office said the government was committed to the investigations into the PKFZ issue. It said the relevant authorities, including PAC, were already conducting their investigations into the alleged wrongdoings and it was best that they be allowed to complete the investigations.

Sept 3: OC Phang tells PAC she does not know what a cash flow projection means, leading the PAC to conclude that poor management failed PKFZ.

Sept 18: PKA sues KDSB for RM720 million for excessive interests costs.

Oct 8: Super Taskforce headed by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan named. Same day PKA files suit against Phang for breach of fiduciary, contractual and common law duties. It contended that she had failed to exercise due care, diligence and skill in the discharge of her duties as PKA General Manager.

Dec 10: OC Phang and two others charged with criminal breach of trust (CBT) and for making false claims in the Klang Sessions Court.

2010

Jan 15: Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail tells theSun that the big fish will be brought to book.

June 1: Ong dropped as Transport Minister following his loss in the MCA presidential elections and is replaced by Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha who says there is no need to re-look at the PKFZ scandal.

July 27: Port Klang Authority Board of Directors decide not to make final payment to KDSB special purpose vehicle Free Zone Capital Bhd. The same day new Transport Minister Kong ovverides the decision.

Jul 29: Former Transport Minister Tun Ling Liong Sik charged for cheating.