Former MCA president Ong Tee Keat has admitted to having met with Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing on several occasions in 2008, but said he did not receive any RM10 million “donation” for MCA from him.

NONE "I bumped into him (Tiong) after having a private dinner with my friends at the PJ Hilton Hotel, but I left after we exchanged greetings... It's was not a designed meeting as alleged," Ong ( left ) told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

Ong said he remembered that the occasion at the hotel occurred during the Chinese New Year celebrations in 2008, which contradicts Tiong's claims that it happened between May and June.

In the same year, Ong said he had a chat with Tiong at Carcosa Seri Negara in Kuala Lumpur, aimed at fact-finding with regard to alleged financial irregularities over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project.

klang pkfz pricewaterhousecoopers kuala dimensi sdn bhd kdsb directors 280509 Tiong was the chief executive officer of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, one of the companies alleged to have been involved in the scandal.

Ong was testifying as the only defendant in an inter partes hearing between Tiong and himself over the alleged RM10 million “donation” to MCA.

On Aug 24, 2009, Ong - a former transport minister - had filed the suit against Tiong, claiming that the latter had issued a defamatory statement in claiming to have given Ong RM10 million.

Tiong’s statement was later published by Malaysiakini in an exclusive report on Aug 12, 2009

Despite Ong seeking RM500 million in the suit, Tiong, who was  BN Backbenchers Club chairperson at the time, stood by his words and counter-sued Ong, seeking RM10 million in damages.

'MCA financially sound'

In his testimony, Ong also denied that MCA had faced a financial crisis in 2008 as claimed by Tiong, who said he had donated the RM10 million to rejuvenate the party.

Ong said MCA did not require any external financial assistance at the time.

"The financial status of MCA after the 12th general election in 2008 was very sound and stable. The assets of MCA were not less than RM2 billion.

" The Star newspaper, which generated huge profits annually, was one of the MCA's assets. Bluntly put, MCA was very rich as in March 2008."

Ong also told the court that he was merely the third vice-president among six, in 2008.

NONE "Anyone with a little common sense who wishes to give donations to any given institution would naturally liaise with the top leaders concerned.

"Everyone, including the plaintiff (Tiong) knew that Ong Ka Ting ( left ) was the (MCA) president (in 2008)... The plaintiff's allegations were sheer mockery of his intelligence," Ong testified.

Last month, Ong's ex-bodyguard Tan Yew Huat, who is the plaintiff's second witness, had testified that several fruit boxes containing cash was transferred to Ong at the hotel.

When cross-examined by Tiong's counsel Prem Ramachandran, Ong explained Tan was sacked due to misbehaviour.

Ong added that Tan had purportedly solicited money from people who had met Ong and was also intimidating his former driver.

Earlier, he had said Tan was sacked after allowing reporters to enter Ong’s house for the purposes of interviewing and taking photograph, soon after the latter’s defeat in the 2010 MCA election.

Justice SM Komathy Suppiah fixed Sept 27 for submissions by both sides.

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