THERE is no such precedent in Malaysian politics. For the first time ever, a Cabinet minister is unveiling possible fraud in a controversial project involving an agency under his own ministry.

The relentless pursuit of the truth means unearthing information that has embarrassed and hurt powerful political and business figures. And we can expect more names to surface.

These are by no means ordinary people but titled people with supposedly respectable standing in society.

The multi-million Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project has become a huge scandal, with bits and pieces of shocking financial abuses being made public.

Such openness is unheard of and for once, every sen of the tax payers money is being accounted for.

But the issue has been clouded with Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing hitting back with allegations that he had given a loan of RM10mil to Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

KDSB deputy CEO Datuk Faizal Abdullah has also alleged that Ong had flown on a private jet belonging to the company without paying.

On Saturday, Tiong took aim at Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, saying she too had taken donations from him.

In short, Tiong is saying that the MCA should be thankful for his generosity and that its leaders should just shut up.

Going by his perverted logic, the country’s philanthropists must be revered and even if they commit any abuses, they should be left untouched because we are supposed to be grateful.

This is totally absurd.

The reality in this country is that many projects of the Chinese community are self-funded. Raising funds for schools or annual festivals like the Moon Cake celebration or the Hungry Ghost festival involves the community, and businessmen often chip in generously to make such events a success. If a businessman like Tiong is approached, it is hardly a surprise.

He should expect to be approached, not just by MCA leaders but politicians from other parties and community leaders as well.

Tiong is after all the Bintulu MP, chairman of the Barisan Backbenchers Club and treasurer-general of the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party.

But no one should divert attention from the current PKFZ controversy, which involves the issue of excessive claims and fraud, by bringing up a totally different issue of public donations.

Don’t confuse Malaysians.

Tiong has been given seven days to apologise to Ong and to withdraw his allegation that he had given the MCA president RM10mil in three instalments.

It’s a serious allegation and he can expect a defamation suit that should be more than RM10mil if he does not do so.

Last week, The Edge wrote that the allegations raised by Tiong and Faizal had actually raised more questions like “how money seems to come by so easily for them since they claim to regularly contribute millions of ringgit to people.”

“It would also be good for them to explain how they and their companies accumulate that kind of money to have private jets like the Gulfstream and Learjet that Ong (and other VIPs) had used,” the business weekly said.

It further commented that “we cannot believe that after all that had been unearthed no one did anything wrong.”

Certainly, rational Malaysians can tell the difference between a minister who has risked his political career by exposing dirty money stolen from the taxpayers, and those who try to cloud the issue by talking about making donations.

We have long been taught that donations, when given anonymously without seeking publicity, are the most noble.

The public expects the culprits behind the PKFZ scandal to be booked and punished.

Being a philanthropist could be a mitigating factor, that’s all.

Millions of ringgit have been lost because of greed and Malaysians expect this money to be returned.

It is not Ong’s fight alone but a fight by all Malaysians who stand for accountability and integrity.