KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president and Air Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has expressed his readiness to face the Parliament's Rights and Privileges Committee, if necessary, following his recent alleged remarks about the government's Central Database Hub (Padu).
In a speech in Parliament today, Wee clarified that he had cited official parliamentary records when stating that the development and implementation of the Padu system from 2023 to 2025 was expected to cost RM85.27 million.
"I never referred to the Economy Minister himself. I'm anak jantan (real man), and if I am referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee, I will face it, no problem. I was referring to the written reply in Parliament," Wee said.
His comments came after Kampar MP Chong Zhemin moved to refer Wee to the Rights and Privileges Committee over the issue.
In a post on Facebook, Wee also criticised Chong for misrepresenting the facts, particularly regarding accusations involving the Ayer Hitam MP and the Economy Minister, Rafizi Ramli.
"Chong had wrongly claimed that I wanted to refer Rafizi to the Rights and Privileges Committee. I have never wanted to refer the Economy Minister to the Rights and Privileges Committee, and I've made that clear from the start. I need to clear my name," he said.
During the debate at Dewan Rakyat, Chong tried to counter Wee's statement, but Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul directed him to sit down. The Speaker also admitted to receiving letters from both parties.
"Next week, I will make a decision. So, I request that this case be rested until I make my decision," Johari said, referring to the dispute centred on the cost of the Padu system.
Earlier, Wee had said in Parliament that the development cost of the Padu system was RM85.27 million, as reflected in written parliamentary responses.
Wee emphasised that this figure had been mentioned at least twice in official records and that was what he used in making his references recently.