Tee Keat urged not to resign
(The Star) PETALING JAYA: Several leaders have called on Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat not to quit over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) controversy.
Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow said Ong should not be apologetic for seeking the truth to restore public confidence in Barisan Nasional.
“He is certainly not an embarrassment for the Barisan, for he has done a good job in promoting greater transparency and accountability,’’ he said.
Teng said this in response to an article in Sin Chew Daily quoting Ong, who is also the MCA president, as saying that he was willing to quit if he had caused embarrassment to MCA and Barisan over the PKFZ issue.
Ong also claimed that he had to bear pressure from within the party and threats from outside the party.
MCA secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng called on members to remain united in support of Ong.
“We know Ong is very sincere in giving the true report on the PKFZ issue, to clear all the suspicion in the eyes of the public,’’ he said, urging Ong not to quit.
Wong, who is also the MCA Selangor chairman, said members should remain united to fight against the powers trying hard to hinder the investigations to uncover the truth.
Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin said PKFZ was an issue of national concern, and therefore Ong should not take it personally.
PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar urged Ong to lodge a police report against those threatening him.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said Ong should lodge a police report to facilitate investigation as the police viewed such threats seriously.
MCA deputy secretary-general Datuk Loke Yuen Yow in a statement yesterday said Ong’s decision to disclose the issue to the public was to prevent the issue being snowballed and to ensure the project is accountable to the public.
“What is saddening and disappointing is that Opposition parties chose to accuse and criticise Ong without seeing the rationale and truth in the whole issue. Besides exploiting this issue, the Opposition parties took the opportunity to attack the MCA president to gain political mileage. I could not think of a better excuse.”
