PETALING JAYA: Two former Cabinet ministers and a high-ranking Umno office-bearer have called for a probe into allegations of political funding as they deny having received donations from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB).
The three are former transport minister Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, former second minister of international trade and industry Tan Sri Ong Ka Chuan and Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan.
“I wish to categorically deny a claim that I received an amount of RM7.8mil from UKSB.
“No such money was given to me as political funding or personally,’’ said Chan.
The former MCA deputy president said he welcomed an investigation into the matter and promised his cooperation and help.
“I regret the claim and consider it highly defamatory and malicious, and have referred the matter to my lawyers to seek their legal opinion as my name has been tarnished,” he added.
Chan’s statement comes in a response to news reports of the ongoing Foreign Visa System (VLN) corruption trial of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
UKSB’s former administrative manager David Tan Siong Sun told the Shah Alam High Court yesterday that the company had made political donations to former prime ministers, ex-ministers and Shahril.
He alleged that Chan and Ong had received political funding of RM7,856,920 and RM922,820 respectively.
Ong, too, issued a statement to say that the allegations were baseless, adding that he had nothing to hide.
The former Tanjong Malim MP also said he welcomed a full investigation into the allegations.
“I invite the accusing party to put forth all evidence and details regarding the allegations in the public domain and to the relevant authorities,” said Ong, who is also a former MCA secretary-general.
He said he was prepared and willing to cooperate with the authorities on the matter.
Shahril, in a Facebook post, said he did not have any knowledge of the ledger kept by Tan that supposedly contained the code name for him, “S Pat”, or the content of the ledger.
“I insist that these allegations are false.
“I am ready to give full cooperation to the authorities under any circumstances regarding this matter,” said Shahril, who is also Umno Youth vice-chief.
Tan told the court that Shahril had received a total of RM1.16mil for political funding purposes because of the latter’s close ties with UKSB former director Wan Quoris Shah Wan Abdul Ghani and Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Ahmad Zahid, who is Umno president, is facing 40 charges in connection with the VLN.