The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 — Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat was forced today to deny allegations that he had received a RM10 million donation last year from Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) CEO Tiong King Sing, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) backbenchers club chairman.

However, he confirmed he had used the private jet owned by KDSB, the turnkey contractor for the scandal-hit Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project but he said his office was waiting to be billed for the services.

The allegations made by Tiong will certainly give BN a headache and is the last thing a beleaguered MCA already wracked by infighting needs.

The disclosure by Tiong, who is treasurer for Sarawak’s SPDP, came after PKFZ’s special task force said this week it had found disputed claims amounting to at least RM500 million.

Yesterday PKA chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng lodged a police report against KDSB and another party over the disputed claims.

Tiong made the startling disclosure today that he had donated RM10 million to Ong and that he was told the money was to be used for MCA’s division activities.

KDSB deputy CEO Datuk Faisal Abdullah also said Ong had used the company’s private jet five times.

Responding through a statement on his personal blog, Ong said:

“I am not surprised that the smear tactics and character assassination against me had picked up pace especially with the latest revelations by the PKFZ Task Force.

“If indeed I have received pecuniary and financial benefits for myself or the party, there will be more reasons for me to protect the interests of the givers, as opposed to proceeding to expose their misdeeds. By doing so, I am risking my personal and family safety as well as my own credibility.

“The allegation by Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing that I have taken the RM10 million ‘loan’ from him for use by the party’s divisions, are obviously made with several motives, including diverting attention away from the alleged irregularities exposed by the Task Force. It could also be meant to create suspicion among my party comrades that I have pocketed funds meant for the divisions. The fact that he indicated that it was a loan could mean that he wants the option of taking me to court to further embarrass me.”

Ong pointed out that during the period Tiong alleged the RM10 million donation was made, he was still the party vice-president and there was no need for him to raise money for the party divisions.

He doubted “any reasonable person would part with RM10 million based on such a story.”

“I am very glad that Datuk Faisal Abdullah has admitted that those jets have been chartered by my office. This clearly indicates that I don’t accept privileges. If I have to, and am willing to pay for plane rides, I clearly do not accept bribes or favours,” he said.

Despite the denial, Ong is not likely to find it easy to shake off the challenges to his political career.

Speculation is already rife that supporters of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, his deputy president, are planning to call for an extraordinary general meeting to oust him as the MCA leader.

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