Loke clarifies attending 'gang dinner' allegation, ropes in MCA president

 

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has clarified the allegation that he attended an underworld dinner. At the same time, he roped in MCA president Wee Ka Siong as well.

“It is a duly registered association under the Registrar of Societies (ROS). It is normal for elected representatives to attend Chinese association fundraising dinners,” he told Malaysiakini.

The transport minister also shared the name of the organisation as “Kelab Sosial Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur”.

Loke then pointed to a Facebook posting on March 10 by Wee on attending a “Kelab Sukan dan Rekreasi Saudagar Malaysia” event, which Malaysiakini understands uses a similar logo of two ancient Chinese coinage.

According to Wee, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing was also present at the event.

Loke was responding to the Telegram channel “Edisi Siasat”, which accused him and other DAP lawmakers of attending a “Gang 04 dinner” on March 3.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, who had attended the event, said it was a “fundraising dinner organised by a registered trade association”.

He said the dinner was held at an international conference hall in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations.

“Is it wrong that I accepted the invitation to attend the dinner?” he told Malaysiakini.

Previously, Sin Chew Daily reported that the dinner on March 3 was organised by a “commerce and industry” association to raise funds for a new building.

It also reported that Loke had donated RM40,000, while Lim and Federal Territories DAP chairperson Tan Kok Wai donated RM5,000 each.

According to Sin Chew Daily, others present were DAP assemblypersons Wong Siew Ki (Seri Kembangan), Yew Jia Haur (Teratai) and Ong Chun Wei (Balakong).

The post in “Edisi Siasat”, which also contained a 44-second clip of the event, claimed that the gang's logo was also displayed at the event.

“Geng 04 buat jamuan makan mlm besar2 siap tayang logo kongsi gelap depa. Tengok2 ahli politik DAP ramai2 kat situ termasuk Menteri Pengangkutan Anthony Loke. Malaysia Madani !! Ha3. (Gang 04 holds a lavish dinner where its logo is displayed. Look at the numerous DAP politicians who were there, including Transport Minister Anthony Loke),” read the post.

The “Edisi Siasat” Telegram group is known for exposing leaked documents as well as allegations of abuse and corruption against the police and other government departments.