KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing denied that he had sponsored RM500,000 for each of the MPs on study tour to Taiwan, saying the money could have been better spent "on investments in China."

He said if each of the 49 MPs were sponsored RM500,000 or about NT$5 million, he should have spent the total sum of RM24.5 million on investments in China.

"As such, I will give anyone who has hinted that I'm that mysterious guy, seven days of grace period to apologise to me and all the MPs who have left for Taiwan, or I'll see him in the court."

He said during a telephone interview with Sin Chew Daily that every individual must be responsible for what he says.

On the accusation that he was trying to "gain distinction," Tiong, who is also the MP for Bintulu, said he didn't even want a Cabinet post, what other "distinction" was he trying to gain?

He said we must never underestimate the MPs' wisdom, thinking that they could be controlled simply by sending them to Taiwan.

As for the announcement by PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that he would travel to Taiwan to meet the MPs, Tiong said it was Anwar's freedom to go to Taiwan; as for meeting the MPs, they might not even want to see him.

He said Anwar's trip would not affect the MPs' itineraries. He reiterated that Barisan Nasional MPs only take instructions from prime minister cum BN president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, adding that the MPs might not be free to meet Anwar or any other Pakatan Rakyat leader.

"Anwar is not the person we take instructions from. We only listen to Abdullah and Najib. The study tour to Taiwan was approved by Abdullah and Najib before we could go ahead." (Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)