Tee Keat playing political 'Wheel of Fortune'

It is all about timing. Embattled MCA president Ong Tee Keat tactically pulled off at short notice, a special briefing for some 1,000 party divisional officials fulfilling the compelling need to consolidate a firmer support from grass-root rank-and-file leaders.

And at the same time, he also successfully delivered a psychological blow against his deputy president Chua Soi Lek for allegedly working hand-in-hand with external forces to overthrow his presidency.

It was an explanation the entire divisional network was waiting to hear about the latest RM10 million allegation which Sarawakian tycoon Tiong King Sing (left) , who is also the BN Backbenchers Chairman, had claimed to have given to Ong in three instalments last year.

Apparently not all at the gathering were satisfied with Ong's detailed explanation of the RM10 million allegedly given to him was in vengeance for the Port Klang Free Trade Zone (PKFZ) saga in which Tiong is under investigation for his role as CEO in Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB).

Others believed the president's explanation and this may put to rest lingering suspicions for the time being.

Tiong told Malaysiakini last week that he had given RM10 million to Ong last year to support MCA activities.

Rebutting criticism that the special briefing was more like a "Save Ong" leadership event, Tee Keat who spoke in Mandarin, said "When I had previously said that there were both internal and external threats, there was a voice in the party saying I was stage-acting.

"But with the latest happenings (the RM10 million allegation), some leaders admitted that they finally saw these threats coming," Ong added.

The party president claimed that he had obtained feedback on the various threats, comparing an attack against the MCA (leadership) akin to a ship in the middle of the ocean threatened by the waves.

"That included a leader from Sarawak orchestrating a political party (based in Sarawak) but intending to make inroads into the peninsular (to fight against MCA under Ong's leadership).

"And another rumour about the setting up of a political party currently Indian ethnic based (Makkal Sakthi) but encouraging membership from other BN parties including MCA (to defect),"

Ong elaborated on the examples of the ‘threats' after feedback from his supporters.

‘Making something out of nothing'

On the RM10 million take, Ong said he did not receive anything, adding "When there is nothing, how could you turn nothing into something, unless you are master illusionist David Copperfield."

"A non-party friend also alerted me on the quantity and size of how much RM10 million is. To carry it, you need some 2 to 4 James Bond (brand) bags to fill in the amount and it also takes a few people to carry it," Ong taking a pot shot on allegations that he had taken the money alone.

But the most damning revelation was Ong's claim that some quarters within the party were conspiring or having links to certain people in PKFZ, including raising a huge amount of funds to topple his leadership.

"As long as I am transport minister I will do everything to handle this issue. We handle the issue and not target the personality," Ong (right) said as a matter of fact.

"The Opposition (DAP) scolded me for one month (posing three questions per day) and in my life I have never faced such fierce scolding before. But I kept my silence and patience."

Ong says the recent threats and allegations would not deter his efforts to pursue his efforts (and his ministry) to bring justice to the scandal.

"Ten days after I was elected party president on October 18 last year, I had directed PricewaterhouseCoopers to make an investigative report because this is a time bomb for the party (involving former MCA leaders)," he told the gathering.

"It is better we (MCA) deal with this rather than waiting till the next general elections," Ong said.

"I had taken a step at a time (on the PKFZ) and whenever I moved ahead, (metaphorically speaking) I could feel being dragged or grabbed at all sides, pulling me back."

"There were people telling me not to worry about PKFZ and that all will be forgotten. Or to cover it up, which I think we cannot, it is a time bomb," Ong reiterated the feedback when the attention on PKFZ first surfaced.

"Even many party members did not believe I would unveil the truth on PKFZ. But step by step I made the effort-until I set up the task force and leading to the police report lodged by PKA's Lee Hwa Beng," he added.

"I have anticipated that to reveal the truth on PKFZ, there will be adverse consequences. If one day I am transferred (from the transport ministry) or bow out, do not be surprised," Ong speculated on his future as transport minister.

No free rides

"A lesson which I have learned recently is this. When you get a free ride (tumbang) either by car or aeroplane, you need to thoroughly ask whether you need to pay.

‘Threats within and without real'

Secondly, when you obtain donations, make sure you have it recorded," referring to his recent squabble with Wijaya Baru Aviations Sdn Bhd, a sister company of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd.

Ong then turned his attack on his deputy Chua (who was appointed by the prime minister as the BN Chief coordinator) and tagged by the pro-Ong faction to be the prime mover of the "internal threat."

Although conspicuously absent at the special briefing, Chua (left) was not spared the full brunt of criticisms.

"When certain quarters want an EGM, they cannot just say, they don't like my face. They must find a relevant and justified reason (resolution: yi an) .

"I have been asked many times by the press on the EGM speculation and I replied that there are insiders (within MCA) who are willing to tear this party apart."

Ong also claimed that the same people might use the alleged RM10 million issue to hold an EGM.

On the speculation that the tenure of his presidency would be short, Ong quipped, "Even if I am toppled, whoever becomes president, the MCA must have integrity and accountability. In fact, soon after I was elected president last year, there were already gossip that my tenure would not last long, maybe 3 months or some said, I would be toppled at an EGM.

"The reason was that Umno did not like me.

"Even if I am not the president, as a member, I will not be satisfied with such (unethical) means to see MCA being destroyed,"

Ong was referring to calls to hold an EGM.

Ong was the sole BN candidate who survived the "308 political tsunami" and at the briefing he also claimed that PKFZ issue was one of the major factors contributing to the Selangor state falling into opposition hands.

Ong claimed that the PKFZ issue was closely related to the party's reforms which had prompted him to convince the Cabinet to declassify the documents so that the truth could be unearthed.

The gathering later passed a formal resolution by a show of hands expressing full support for the Ong-Liow leadership in the face of what has been described by the party president as real threat from internal and external forces.

Will the oratory of uplift, urgency and unity at the special briefing get the support of those at the bottom of the party heap?

Many unanswered questions lingering

The event indeed left many unanswered questions as to who else in the party had received funds from Tiong.

Deputy education minister Wee Ka Siong said he had refused to answer publicly the allegations because they were unsubstantiated rumours.

Wanita Chief Chew Mei Fun however had acknowledged during the briefing that she had received small donations for community projects and activities like the lantern festival and for senior citizens' welfare work.

"Our job is always to raise funds and if everybody makes allegations, we would be too busy answering them," she complained during the briefing.

Despite the on-going threats and allegations, the larger question that remains pertinent, is that ‘Is there any hope of getting the MCA president and his deputy president Chua Soi Lek on a reconciliatory path to overcome their personal differences?'

And what will be the recommendations of the party's disciplinary board investigating Chua's sex DVD scandal?

It is hard to define the future of MCA's directions when the detractors in rival camps seem to be narcissistic.

And things do not seem to be getting any better with the spat between Chua and Ong getting worse rather than any better.