"Some nightclubs are not just places for having drinks. They maybe venues for unlawful and morally questionable activities," MCA president Ong Ka Ting advised a gathering of rank-and-file leaders at a party leadership workshop in Penang on June 7, 2004.

He added that the party must maintain a positive image and as representatives, they should steer clear of such places to avoid their reputation being tarnished and damaged.

In fact, the current allegation of a ‘snoop squad’ rocking the party has nothing to do with monitoring MCA leaders patronising night clubs or places of pleasure. And the role and functions of the alleged ‘spies’ involved are not to ensure a healthy political culture either.

mca alleged snoop squad and the targets 130508 Serious accusations backed by "facts and written testimonies" are being directed at certain high-ranking party officials at the headquarters level that the spy squad served a specific "hidden political agenda" with circumstantial evidence pointing in the direction of the president himself.

Allegedly the snoop squad had served its purpose before the March 8 general election and will probably continue to do so in the face of the coming party elections.

But this time, the snoop squad will become the victim of strict scrutiny by party members. More importantly, the "can of worms" is finally opened for close examination.

Many conscientious party members are beginning to realise that walking-the-talk on the acclaimed ‘healthy political culture’ must begin with a transparent process in exposing the culprits for the party to face the moment of truth.

It remains to be seen whether the three-man inquiry committee will be able to conduct its role to ensure that ‘justice’ is served besides ensuring that the truth on the ‘snoop controversy’ can emerge. Failing which, the credibility of the Oct 18 party election will invariably be undermined and the leadership in power will be unable to free itself from accusations and allegations.

Damaging report

On May 12, whistleblower Wong Leong broke his silence by submitting a two-page report (in Mandarin) to the party's three-man committee investigating the alleged snoop squad purportedly linked to some top ranking party officials.

It was learnt that the brief submission also highlighted intricate details of several secret meetings between Wong and former Gerakan Belia Bersatu leader Tee Ann Chuan who had been responsible for leaking much information on the clandestine activities purportedly conducted by the alleged snoop squad against political rivals and detractors within the party.

mca investigate on character assasin 160408 wong leong going up 02 Wong ( right ) in his testimony wrote (translated in English): "In early September 2007, Tee contacted me and requested a meeting but I declined. However, in the middle of the same month, he called again and during the conversation asked me if I am holding any post in the party."

"I (Wong) told him I am the adviser to the PJ Utara division and I am also the Len Seng Garden branch chairman.

"I queried Tee what was the reason of his asking. Tee answered that the proposed meeting (with Wong) was related to some MCA’s task. I ended the phone conversation telling him I would meet him at the end of September."

The first meeting between Wong and Tee finally took place at noon at the A&W fast-food restaurant at Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya.

In his testimony, Wong narrated the conversation during this meeting. "Tee told me that he was working for (MCA chief) Ong Ka Ting for a monthly salary of RM10,000."

"I then asked him (Tee) his scope of work. Tee showed me many documents which included contact name lists of delegates and divisional memberships. I was surprised when I saw the documents."

Wong was surprised because such listings are considered ‘classified and confidential in nature’ and only top party officials have access to the complete list of such documents.

"Tee told me that without the consent from high-ranking party officials, nobody could have such documents. I then asked Tee what was the urgency that he wanted to meet me.

liow tiong lai constitution 210807 "Replying Tee briefed me that the president (Ong) has set up a three-man sub-committee dubbed the ‘snoop’ task force comprising members namely (MCA Youth chief) Liow Tiong Lai ( centre ), Wee Jack Seng and he (Tee) as the chief coordinator."

Tee told Wong that the snoop squad had been in existence for the past two years and seven months.

Wong also said that Tee openly admitted (to him) that the three-man snoop squad was answerable only to the president. One of the tasks of this clandestine team was to facilitate contact with all party members and leaders throughout the country.

Tee told Wong that Wee (Jack Seng) resigned as political secretary because Ong wanted him to take charge in the preparation of the divisional party elections specifically in Sabah and Johor. The reason being given that the move was to check party vice-president Chua Soi Lek’s influence of power in the two states and other parts of the country.

"Tee added that the other states would be taken care of by Liow (Tiong Lai) and him."

"As far as MCA Selangor is concerned, Tee told me that the president would appoint someone to take charge and added that I need not contact (from Petaling Jaya Utara MP) Chew Mei Fun because Chew is supportive of the president."

Getting rid of rivals

Perhaps the most damaging part of Wong’s testimony revealed Tee’s open confession that the purpose of the spy squad was to "rid" several senior party leaders seen to be detractors of Ong.

"Tee said the specific purpose of the said three-man squad was to rid the power influence of supporters linked to Chua Soi Lek, (former VP) Chua Jui Meng, (former PJ Selatan MP) Donald Lim Siang Chai including (former MCA chief) Ling Liong Sik and his son, Hee Leong (and remove these senior party leaders from the mainstream of party politics)."

"When I heard all these from Tee, I asked him whether the party will be led by 100 percent new faces, to which Tee answered in the affirmative, ‘yes’."

Just before the general election, the MCA leadership announced that the party would be rejuvenated by fielding some 40 percent of new candidates.

The significance of Wong’s testimony pointed out that his meeting with Tee (Ann Chuan) took place in September 2007 and many ‘disclosures’ actually turned out to be true in 2008.

One of the most revealing evidence provided by Tee concerned the future of two senior party leaders, Chua Soi Lek and (deputy president) Chan Kong Choy (as provided by Wong in his testimony).

chua soi lek interview 020408 02 "Tee foretold in September last year that Chua Soi Lek ( left ) and Chan Kong Choy would not be contesting at the next general election. I asked him the reason but Tee told me not to bother (asking). Instead, he remarked indirectly that if the party election was held before the general election, the president would lose his post."

But that was not all. Tee in his meeting with Wong had actually "let the cat out of the bag" by spelling out the whole strategic plan which later took place in 2008.

On September 2007, Tee "predicted" that Lim Siang Chai would be given a chance to contest in the general election but would not be given a deputy minister post (but Lim lost). Tee added that Loh Seng Kok would not be nominated because he (Loh) is aligned to Ling (Liong Sik).

"Yap Pian Hon, Tan Yee Kew, Tang See Hang, Dr Wong Sai Hou, Lim Choon Kim and Koh Siew Khim, according to Tee, would not be nominated (to contest in the 2008 general election."

When Tee detected disbelief in Wong on the party leaders that would be dropped, he challenged Wong that the next general election (list of nominations) would prove him (Tee) correct.

Wong was told to keep all the information ‘top secret’.

According to Wong’s testimony, it mentioned that many photographs were secretly taken of party divisional leaders, members of parliament and state assemblymen during their visits or meetings with other counterparts throughout the country. An example of a photograph taken which Tee mentioned to Wong was (former Seri Kembangan state representative) Liew Yuen Keong having "makan" with Chua Soi Lek.

"Hence, Tee concluded to me that the influence of Yap (Pian Hon) was necessary to counteract the close contact between Chua (Soi Lek) and Liew (Yuen Keong)."

More witnesses

ong ka ting interview 140408 11 At the hearing of the investigating committee on May 12, Wong had suggested that "more witnesses" including the president and members of the alleged snoop squad be called to present their testimonies.

He added that both Yap Pian Hon and Lim Choon Kim who had met Tee "face-to-face" at several meetings should also be called as witnesses.

Ong Ka Ting, who has denied his involvement in the alleged snoop squad, has yesterday said that he was willing to appear before the committee.

According to the report, Wong had also mentioned that Tee had met Yap Pian Hon (twice) and Lim Choon Kim (four times) to solicit their willingness to pass new applications (for memberships) to him (Tee) who in turn would pass them to Wee Jack Seng for processing (approval) at the party headquarters level.

The explosive disclosure by Wong has started the ball rolling in the face of the president controlling all the levers of power. The party members and national delegates will ultimately be the judges and many will refuse to listen quietly because the ‘power elections’ is not over yet.