MCA president and Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat today reiterated his stand to sue Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing over the latter's claim that he had given him RM10 million for MCA last year.

Ong said he decided to go ahead with suing Tiong, the major stakeholder of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB), to redeem his honour and counter the allegation.

NONE "As this has gone too far, I will definitely bring the matter to court as I had already stated and promised...I will do it," he told reporters.

Ong said in the last one week, he had to face baseless accusations involving the alleged contribution.

"If you want to accuse and defame (another)...not to that extent. One moment, you said it was a loan and then it was a donation. Actually, I've never taken such a loan," he added.

Ong said anyone who followed the developments of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) issue from the beginning would know the truth, because before they (KDSB and Tiong) made the allegation against him, the Port Klang Authority's (PKA) task force had discovered unsubstantiated claims bills amounting to RM1 billion.

He said following the discovery, PKA lodged a police report against Kuala Dimensi, the contractor for the PKFZ turnkey project, and the public would definitely question the integrity and credibility of those who made the allegation against him.

Should I just keep quiet?

Ong made a police report against Tiong last Thursday, and said that he would take legal action against him if he did not withdraw the statement containing the allegation within seven days.

NONE However, on the same day, Tiong who is also chairperson of the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club, not only refused to withdraw the statement, but also challenged Ong to sue him.

"Whatever accusations thrown at me, I am prepared to face the risk and I am determined to resolve the issue with propriety as the PKFZ issue involves public interests," said Ong.

The controversy erupted when Tiong issued a statement that One had received RM10 million from him for MCA's activities last year and the money was given in three instalments.

Asked on Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's reprimand for the two (Ong and Tiong) not to quarrel openly, Ong said he accepted this but he needed to explain the truth because the allegation against him was serious.

"This is nothing personal or a clash of personalities. Far from it. I don't have any personal dealing with him (Tiong). If there is, it's only about the PKFZ issue, but this is not a personal issue.

"He (Tiong) has made a serious allegation against me. So, should I just keep quiet?" he said. - Bernama