Often gives credit where credit is due when the Barisan Nasional leaders are doing right in their ministerial portfolios. I credited MCA president Ong Tee Keat when he released the Pricewaterhouse&Coopers audit report on the Port Klang Free Zone issue, followed recently by the summary of main issues covered by the Special Task Force on PKFZ.
Ong's internal party politics saw some allegations of "misconduct" -- maybe even "purported corrupt acts" as revealed by a key protagonist in the scandalous PKFZ affair, +++Tiong Sing King, big BOSS of turnkey contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd which surely gave rise to "conflict of interests" situations. This is another classic case of "rats scurrying for cover" when a ship lists...Let's sing some Hi Cs, anyone? FULL STEAM AHEAD! WITH THE CHANGE AGENDA!
+++ remember him who led some 30+ BN members of barliament to Taiwan on a study strip ...afraid of DSAI's Change MISSION 916? I wonder how much was spent, exchange hands and WHAT WAS THE SOURCE OF SO MUCH MONEY that even turned YL, Desi sick with red blooded eyes for 31diesN30nights; I almost rose from the dead.
Here's one report from malaysianmirror.com:
Tee Keat says money allegations a smear tactic
Wednesday, 12 August 2009 23:02
KUALA LUMPUR - MCA president Ong Tee Keat has slammed allegations that he had received RM10 million from the chief executive of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, the turnkey contractor at the centre of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) controversy as "smear tactics and character assasination" against him.
"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," he said on his blog www.ongteekeat.net.
He was responding to a report by Malaysiakini today citing Kuala Dimensi chief executive officer Tiong King Sing, who is also Bintulu Member of Parliament, that the money was handed over in three instalments last year for activities related to MCA divisions.
Seeking legal advice
Ong, who is also transport minister, said he was seeking legal advice on the defamatory allegations, according to a Bernama report tonight
He said he was not surprised that smear tactics and character assassination against him had picked up pace especially with the latest revelations by the PKFZ taskforce.
Yesterday, Port Klang Authority chairman Lee Hwa Beng lodged a police report against Kuala Dimensi and BTA Architects, the development consultants for PKFZ, after the taskforce uncovered billing irregularities of between RM500 million and RM1 billion.
Ong said Tiong's allegations were made with several motives including diverting attention away from the 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," he said.
Ong also referred to 2008 when he was a party vice president before becoming president in October.
"The need for me as vice-president to raise money for the divisions was a non-starter. Later, as president, we already have access to party funds and allocations. I doubt any reasonable person would part with RM10 million based on such a story," he said.
'I pay for plane rides'
The Malaysiakini report also cited Tiong's deputy in Kuala Dimensi, Faizal Abdullah, as saying that the MCA president had used the company's jet five times incurring US$40,0000 for the services.
"I am very glad that Faizal 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, I am willing to pay for plane rides, I clearly do not accept bribes or favours," he said.
Ong added that his office had yet to receive invoices for the services and was certain that it would have paid up promptly.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 12 August 2009
DESIDERATA: Recently when I BUMped into an old schoolmate lawyer Sdr Tan FL, we discussed a litle about the past and present MCA presidents, and I said I would give Ong Tee Keat a better rating than his predecessors Ong Kah Ting and Dr Ling Liong Sick (***sic) in as far as taking responsibility over the PKFZ affair. The former OTK acted relatively fast in getting the PWC report out, a good demonstration of his commitment to accountability and transparency. As for the latter OTK, his "disastrous"appointments of his own brother to important party and Cabinet positions were highly questionable indeed, but let's leave it at that because at least he did not go back on his word to give up the MCA presidency. ***I sept it thus because a man who held great ambitions like driving his son to become a billionaire-at-27 must surely have his head and other anatomical parts examined. Most of us "mortals" would NOT even have started to buy the first house in our own name -- as at 27, a graduate employee would have the most worked some five years!
Sdr Tan raised some key points with Desi over tehtarik -- That indeed the current MCA president has shown thus far acts of openness and transparency, especially in the PKFZ affair.
Tan, who has also been an MCA member from two decades back -- YES, I'm an PKR member, but IT'S OKAY BY US ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE POLITICAL DIVIDE to sit at the same table tehtari'ing! -- added that arising from PKFZ< MCA had never gained financially from the project. If any MCA party leaders did benefit, it's strictly in their personal capacities.
Saying that Ong Tee Keat's rcent actionon being transparent and accountable was a "great leap forward" in leadership, Tan concluded:
"The release of the PWC report, and now the Special Task Force on PKFZ, and his statement he'd go all to recover any misapproopriated funds show our president's commitment to fighting corruption."
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