Two government leaders today became embroiled in a war of words in the wake of an allegation that Education Ministry officials had embezzled public funds meant for vernacular schools.

Over the weekend, Chinese dailies quoted Deputy Higher Education Minister Ong Tee Keat as saying that ministry officials had pocketed funds meant to refurbish Chinese primary schools.

Citing an example, Ong said a Chinese school in Johor which was supposed to receive RM30,000 only got RM3,000.

The money is part of a RM10 million special allocation approved by the government last year to refurbish old schools. Chinese primary schools top the recipients list with 114 schools slated to receive the funds, followed by 71 Tamil schools and 25 religious schools.

A visibly peeved Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein called for a press conference at the Parliament lobby this afternoon and lambasted Ong for his 'irresponsible' action to publicly state that government officers are corrupted.

"What I'm hurt about is not the issue of corruption raised by Ong. I have never compromised on that, if there is corruption, stern action will be taken.

"But I am hurt over the manner, words and location which the deputy minister used (to make the claim). As a high ranking officer in MCA and Barisan Nasional, he made an irresponsible statement that government officers are corrupt in public," he said.

Ong had made the allegation during a dinner with teachers from a Chinese school in Muar, Johor.

'Trying to be a hero'

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said 99 percent of the RM10 million fund was allocated to schools without a hitch but Ong's statement created the impression that government officers had misappropriated the whole lot.

"I know him really well and he is an eloquent speaker but what is disappointing is that he is

very clever in positioning himself to be a hero for certain races on certain issues, as though he is the only one who fights for the betterment of the Chinese community," the minister added.

Hishammuddin, who is also Umno Youth chief said: "I was the one who defended him as MCA Youth chief even when his (former party) president (Dr Ling Liong Sik) wanted to suspend him. But if he's wrong (now), then he's wrong."

Ong had served as Hishammuddin's deputy when the latter was the youth and sports minister.

Hishammuddin also said that his current deputy Hon Choon Kim and MCA president Ong Ka Ting discovered about the issue only after reading Ong's comments in the Chinese papers.

"Both Ka Ting and Hon are from MCA and if they have to read about this in the media to know (about the issue), what kind of relationship does Ong share with his leaders?" he asked.

Towards the end of the press conference, Hishammuddin said he was sure that Ong will respond to his remarks as he wants to be "popular within his own community".

Ong responds

About two hours later, Ong called for a press conference at the same venue.

The MCA vice-president said he regretted that Hishammuddin chose to launch a 'personal attack' against him instead of focusing on the allegation.

"If he thinks by lambasting me with his open criticisms, he can resolve the problems, then he is free to continue criticising me, that is his choice," he told reporters.

Ong, who explained that he disclosed the alleged misappropriation in response to a question from participant at the dinner, also rebuked Hishammuddin for question his relationship with MCA leaders.

"The relationship between MCA leaders is not an issue for others to simply criticise. We will not tolerate this or allow others to create divisions between us," he said.

The deputy minister, who claimed to have no intentions of being heralded as a hero, also criticised the Umno Youth chief for stirring up racial sentiments.