Dr M, UMNO man, ex MCA leaders all deny receiving UKSB money

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, UMNO information chief Shahril Hamdan, former MCA secretary-general Tan Sri Ong Ka Chuan and former MCA deputy president Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy all denied receiving money from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB).

Yesterday (July 25), former UKSB administrative manager David Tan testified including the four names in a “secret” ledger of payments made by UKSB to ministers, politicians and Government servants between 2014 and 2018.

Tan said Mahathir received RM2.6 mil in political donations, Shahril RM1.162 mil, Ong RM920,000 and Chan RM7.8 mil.

Berita Harian reported Mahathir as asking the authorities to check his bank accounts, saying “it’s easy to say” he received the money, said to be given to his nephew for his then-party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

Shahril, who is also the economic adviser to the prime minister, also denied knowledge of the ledger and said he was ready to cooperate with the authorities on the matter.

Ong, a former international trade and industry minister, said the allegation was “entirely baseless in nature”, while Chan, a former transport minister, said he was referring the matter to his lawyer.

Tan’s ledger also includes prominent politicians like Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Khairy Jamaluddin, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.

Muhyiddin, the former prime minister, has since denied receiving RM1.3 mil from UKSB, as testified in court by Tan, while other UMNO politicians like Khairy and Anifah have also claimed innocence.

Tan is a witness in the trial against UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Zahid, a former home minister, is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to US$13.56 mil (RM42 mil) from UKSB for Government contracts.

UKSB was appointed by the Government in 2016 to handle the foreign visa system for Chinese tourists. – July 26, 2022