Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat uses private or foreign airlines only in the event where local airlines are not available and the cost comes out from his own pocket, said his political secretary.

Ong's political secretary, Simon Lim, said this in a press statement today and pointed out that the minister generally confines himself to flying Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Firefly.

ong tee keat flight schedule 130809 "On rare occasions when flights taken are not for official functions, these are paid for from his personal account.

"The services of airlines other than the ones mentioned above are only utilised in very rare cases of emergency or urgency," said Lim.

Lim's statement comes in the wake of public scrutiny over Ong's use of Wijaya Baru Aviations Sdn Bhd's private jets five times during a two-month period between February and April this year ( see chart ).

Lim, however, did not specify if the five private jet flights were meant for Ong's personal use or for official purposes, and whether these were emergency flights.

The company is a sister company of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, which is the turnkey developer of Port Klang Free Zone, a severely troubled government project which Ong is investigating.

'Will pay, but only if...'

Wijaya Baru Global Holdings Bhd deputy chief executive officer Faizal Abdullah said the planes were "loaned" to Ong on an informal basis and he only needed to reimburse the cost - a whopping US$40,000 (RM140,000).

(Wijaya Baru Global Holdings is the parent company of Kuala Dimensi and Wijaya Baru Aviations).

kuala dimensi kdsb pc on pkfz report 290509 faizal abdullah 02 Considering that there was never a formal agreement, Faizal ( right ) said the company could not bill Ong, but the latter is insisting that it is necessary.

In the statement, Lim again reiterated that Ong and his office has yet to receive an invoice requesting payment.

"(The minister) will honour all his payments and any outstanding obligation.

"Needless to say, the payment will be made through his personal account, after ascertaining that the quantum is reasonable," said Lim.

His embattled boss will be giving a special briefing on the matter to all MCA division leaders at the party headquarters tomorrow.