KUALA LUMPUR: MCA ministers and deputy ministers on Thursday came out in full force itn support of their president, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, who is also the Transpor Minister, in facing the challenges in handling the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) issue.

The three cabinet ministers and seven deputy ministers, in a joint statement, said: "This is an appropriate time for us to show our support for the leadership of Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat as our president."

"We share his stand that the interests of the people must be adequately addressed, as the government and the public await for an acceptable solution to the PKFZ saga."

The ministers are Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha (Housing and Local Government), Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (Health) and Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen (Tourism).

The deputy ministers are Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong (Education), Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung (Higher Education), Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun (Women, Family and Community Development), Wee Jeck Seng (Youth and Sports) and Datuk Chor Chee Heung (Finance), Datuk Lee Chee Leong (Foreign Affairs) and Senator Heng Seai Kie (Information Communication and Culture).

They also pledged their support for Ong in his principled stand in addressing party issues and concerns, consistent with the party constitution and mission.

They said those who created obstacles, made threats, suppressed the truth and mislead the public must be condemned in the strongest terms possible.

"The MCA is now on a difficult and tedious journey to redeem itself and to win back the support of the Chinese community in particular and all Malaysians in general.

"We need a leader who has the credibility and moral standing to make the MCA a modern, reconfigured and cohesive party that is able to support and strengthen the Barisan Nasional (BN). Ong is our clear choice to perform such a task."

Ong, they said, had not only answered the call for change but had been at the leading edge of reforms within the party as well as the party's effort to serve the members and Malaysians.

The PKFZ located on a 400-hectare site in Pulau Indah and managed by Port Klang Free Zone Sdn Bhd (PKFZSB), became an issue after the start-up cost of the facility ballooned to more than RM4 billion. (Bernama)