Ong gets supporters to quell gathering storm
A hastily organised closed-door briefing for MCA delegates was held today for party president Ong Tee Keat to explain a series of controversies which have cropped up over the past week.
A hastily organised closed-door briefing for MCA delegates was held today for party president Ong Tee Keat to explain a series of controversies which have cropped up over the past week.
According to some of the participants, chief among issues were claims by Ong that external and internal forces were now conspiring against him.
Among the external forces are said to be those behind the beleaguered Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project, who is unhappy with Ong, who is transport minister, for exposing their alleged wrongdoings to the public.
Internally, Ong was said to have told delegates that a group was trying to use the PKFZ scandal as an excuse to call for an extraordinary general meeting to undermine his leadership.
Though never naming anyone, Ong was implicitly pointing fingers at his deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek. Both have had a sour relationship even before they were elected to their respective posts last year.
Chua and his supporters were conspicuously missing from the three-hour briefing, held at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
All other top office bearers including the four vice-presidents, secretary-general, treasurer-general, Youth chief and Women's wing chief were present.
Grassroots pledge allegiance to Ong
During the briefing, Ong repeated his public denials that he has received RM10 million in donations from Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing, one of the beneficiaries of the PKFZ project.
"The president told the grassroots that the burden of proof is on the accuser," secretary-general Wong Fook Ming told reporters.
Ong also repeated his explanation that he was never billed for flights on aircrafts owned by one of Tiong's company, hence why he did not foot the bill, reportedly costing USD40,000 (RM150,000).
Tiong is a major player in Wijaya Baru Global Holdings Bhd, the parent company of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, the turnkey-contractor of the multi-billion ringgit PKFZ project.
Kuala Dimensi has repeatedly argued against the transport ministry and the Port Klang Authority public accusations that the company was involved in excessive profiteering in the PKFZ project.
The company has also lamented that it was never questioned, or allowed to defend itself, by the auditors, special task force and special committees commissioned by Ong to probe the PKFZ scandal.
By the end of the briefing, the 700 to 800 participants passed a resolution to support Ong in facing the series of issues, said Wong.
"I'm satisfied with briefing. I have said what I want to say. It was a very good interactive session. There were (some) sharp and good questions," said Ong, when cornered by reporters later.
Wavering support for Ong?
However, not all members were as satisfied as Ong, such as Kapar division chief Song Kee Chai who failed to get any answers on rumours of another high-ranking national MCA leader who had allegedly received RM10 million from Tiong.
"Our responsibility is to report information to the party leadership. I'm disappointed that I couldn't get any answers," said Song.
The MCA leader in question is also claimed to have used Tiong's private aircrafts before.
Some of Ong's opponents within the party are also questioning the motives behind the briefing and said the party president was creating imaginary enemies.
"What is the point of going if they are just going to blame us for his problems? Whether he received RM10 million or not, it is between him and Tiong. Don't blame us," a divisional leader who was absent from the meeting, told Malaysiakini.
A party insider told Malaysiakini that the briefing was held today to shore up support after doubts about Ong's leadership were raised following the revelation of his past relationship with Tiong.
"It is to boost morale and confidence in view of the things he had said before - that RM100 million has been raised to topple him and that his internal and external enemies are now joining forces," said the insider.
Meanwhile, party treasurer-general Tee Hong Seng told reporters that there were no records of the party having received RM10 million in donations last year.
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