Chua: Don’t drag MCA into personal feud

Written by Chan Kok Leong, The Edge   

The feud between Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing is essentially a personal matter and the party should not be dragged into it, said MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Although expressing support for Ong in having the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigate Tiong’s allegations, he disagreed with the suggestion that the party should use legal means to pursue the matter.

“I expressed my support for the party president to allow the police and MACC look into Tiong’s claims during the central committee (CC) meeting today. But I disagreed with the party’s decision to use legal redress as their problem is a personal matter,” said Chua at a press conference yesterday evening.

The sentiment, however, was not shared by other CC members. “It was not surprising but I expressed my opinion,” said Chua.

Asked if he believed Ong had accepted a donation on MCA’s behalf, Chua said his personal opinion was not important. “We do not know who is right or wrong in this issue as we do not know who is telling the truth.”

Chua, the former Labis MP, went on to say that if the party had accepted the donation, then it needed to explain to the public.

“But the party treasurer has already said that the party did not obtain any donations from Tiong. Hence, the police and MACC need to investigate this thoroughly.”

Tiong, who is the CEO of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB), the turnkey contractor of the controversial Port Klang Free Zone project, had told the media last week that he “donated” RM10 million in cash in three separate instalments to Ong.

KDSB is currently under pressure from the Port Klang Authority (PKA), which comes under Ong’s transport ministry.

PKA has alleged that KDSB had overbilled PKA for between RM500 million and RM1 billion and has lodged police reports on the matter.

Since then, Tiong has dropped several bombshells regarding his “donations” and unpaid airplane rides for Ong and another MCA leader, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun. The Bintulu MP also told the media yesterday that he charged the MCA only RM1 for rental of eight shophouses in Penampang, Sabah.

Chua yesterday said he took issue with Ong’s assertion that there was a plot to topple him as MCA president. “There is no basis for his allegation that members are planning an emergency general meeting to oust him,” said Chua.

“His allegation that ‘someone’ is raising a RM100 million war chest to drive him out will tarnish the image of MCA and BN. It’s as if MCA members are all money driven.”

Chua said voters were monitoring MCA closely and if a leader had a good service record, he need not fear anyone.
“MCA is at its lowest ebb now and internal conflicts will only drive voters away. As elected officials, we must always remember that we are here to serve the people, not politics,” he added.

Chua, who is the BN chief co-ordinator for Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states, was in Petaling Jaya to chair a BN Petaling Jaya Utara division meeting yesterday.