Transport minister Ong Tee Keat was not spared from being asked if he had received benefits from contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd when he was grilled by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

NONE Ong ( right ), who is known for his gutsy eloquence, did not provide a straight answer to the PAC, which had called in the minister as a witness to its investigations into the Port Klang Free Zone scandal.

According to recently released transcripts of the inquiry, Ong, who the PAC called on July 16 was asked by Petaling Jaya parliamentarian Tony Pua to state on record if he had received any benefits from Kuala Dimensi, the PKFZ turnkey developer.

Pua: Did you receive any direct benefits from Kuala Dimensi, or its owner Tiong King Sing, or other companies in the form of entertainment, holidays, air flights and such?...just for the record.

Ong: If we were in the Dewan Rakyat, I will instinctively raise Rule 36 (6) of the Standing Orders. (You are) imputing improper motives.

Pua: It's (just a) question.

'Death threats'

Ong then replied that he was aware that he was not in the Dewan Rakyat and was not in position to so, but he demanded that it go on record that Pua has cast doubts on him in bad faith.

"It is an assumption (fueled by) intentions that are not good. I don't want to use the word jahat (bad) but if anyone offer money or other forms of inducement, surely (the giver) has demands.

"This is demand and supply. But in this case, whatever that is desired has been obtained. Why should they offer inducements? This is simple logic. How can you not understand?"asked Ong.

NONE PAC deputy chairperson Dr Tan Seng Giaw ( left ) then followed up by asking Ong if he had been threatened by Kuala Dimensi owner and Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing.

Ong replied that there were "threats" but refused to name anyone, despite being pressed repeatedly by Tan to do so.

Ong said he had received threats via mobile phone text messages or through a third party. "I won't make assumptions. But in my heart, I know who is behind it," Ong told the committee.

Following the release of the Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) audit on PKFZ, Ong claimd that he was "under siege" by groups with vested interests in the project.

He also alluded that political enemies within MCA were colluding with powerful businessmen to topple him as MCA president.

Tiong had also claimed that he extended a RM10 million loan to Ong last year, which the latter has denied.

Ong was also alleged to have used private jets belonging to Tiong on four occassions while refusing to pay for the services.

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