'Tee Keat must pay for luxury flghts'

Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat must pay for the 'luxury flights' especially if they were not for critical government functions, said DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua.

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP said this should be done "to preserve his integrity and the integrity of his office."

It has been revealed that Ong, who is also MCA president, had used two private jets four times to fly domestic routes between February and April this year.

The company which owns the planes said that while the jets were 'loaned' to the minister, it was expected that he would pay for the fuel and other expenses incurred amounting to some US$40,000 (RM141,000).

Ong's secretary had claimed that the ministry did not receive a bill for this, which the company later argued that since it was not an official deal, there were no bills involved.

Commenting on this, Pua said it showed that the expenses were to be paid for with taxpayers monies.

"The fact that the minister incurred an average of US$8,000 or RM28,000 for each return trip is shocking and beyond comprehension, especially in the light of the fact that Malaysia was suffering its worst effects from the global economic crisis," he said in a statement.

Pua said Ong must "redeem his own integrity and moral courage by not asking the rakyat to pay for his excesses."

Ong must come clean

According to Pua, Ong must be transparent and declare what are the official government functions in Johor Bahru, Kuantan and Kuching which were so important that he must incur RM28,000 for the return flights compared to just RM700, before government discounts?

He also called on Ong to reveal if there are other private charter flights he has taken during his tenure as transport minister, whether to local or overseas destinations and if these charter flights were paid for by the ministry or "sponsored" by generous businessmen?

He also questioned if Ong "has breached the government's General Order which states that all officials including ministers can only fly Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and use government owned cars?"

The embattled Ong has also been accused of receiving RM10 million in donation from business tycoon-turned-politician Tiong King Sing.

The minister has denied the allegation, and is contemplating taking legal action.