PETALING JAYA: The government has outlined a clear stance on the National Cabotage Policy, which was further explained during the debate on Nov 2, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic).

       The Transport Minister also asked Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming to check the facts before raising any allegations.

       "As a friend to you, I am saying that we have given the government's stance during the debate.

       "Whatever you (Ong) have raised is factually wrong and begs better fact-checking," Dr Wee said in a Facebook post on Friday (Nov 5) night.

       He was responding to a media statement issued by Ong that alleged, among others, that Yoshio Sato was no longer a vice-president of NTT Ltd Japan.

       During an hour-long live debate on Nov 2 with former finance minister Lim Guan Eng on the reimposition of cabotage for subsea cable repairs and maintenance in Malaysian waters, Dr Wee revealed that Japanese conglomerate NTT has informed Malaysia that it is considering a new mega subsea cable from Japan to South-East Asia, with landing points in Sabah and Sarawak.

       He said the fact that NTT had asked him for government support proved that the current cabotage policy was no deterrence to the construction of new subsea cables with landing points in Malaysia.

       Dr Wee also urged Ong to write to NTT to seek clarification.

       "I invite you to write to NTT and they will dispel your claims completely.

       "If you still insist that you are factually right, then I have no choice but to reveal the truth," the MCA president said in his Facebook post.