Initial police investigations have revealed that MCA president Ong Ka Ting has no links with two triad leaders as alleged in a poison pen letter, Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin told the Dewan Rakyat today.

"The police questioned several people and conducted a thorough probe on the allegations, and found that MCA was not infiltrated by triads to date," he said, while Ong who also present nursed a broad smile.

The minister was responding to a question from Kerk Kim Hock (DAP-Kota Melaka) on the allegation against the recently appointed MCA president.

In his supplementary question, the DAP leader criticised the police for ignoring photographs and an obituary in a Chinese paper which purportedly implicated Ong.

Despite this, Zainal reiterated that the police have yet to establish any links. When met later at the House lobby, he said investigations have not concluded but declined to reveal further details.

Recruiting gangsters

The photographs showed the MCA president in the company of one of the triad leaders. While the obituary for the father of one of these triad figures contained condolences from Ong and his predecessor Dr Ling Liong Sik.

The photo and the obituary have been posted on two popular Chinese discussion websites.

Investigations into the allegations began when Ong lodged a police report in May regarding the poison pen letter which was widely circulated.

Meanwhile, Zainal revealed today that two more police reports were lodged - one in Klang and the other in Bukit Mertajam, Penang - over the letter.

The letter alleged that Ong - during his tenure as deputy home minister from 1995 to 1999 - had abused his ministerial powers to help the duo when they ran into trouble with the authorities.

The triad leaders were said to have been made MCA divisional chiefs in Penang and Selangor respectively, and had allegedly helped recruit gangsters as party members.

The letter also said the duo were involved in various illegal businesses such as money-lending, gambling and prostitution.

The leader from Selangor was later killed in a triad dispute, while the one from Penang has allegedly fled the country.

Free of vice

Speaking to reporters later, Ong said the police findings have hampered the opposition's intention to tarnish MCA's image.

"I am happy MCA is free from unhealthy activities. MCA leaders are law-abiding people, indeed we are more so than ordinary people because we are public figures.

"We uphold the law, political ethics and we defend the law," he said when met at the Parliament lobby.

On the photographs and the obituary, Ong said these did not show "specific indication of anything illegal".

"MCA is a big party, we have one million members. As a MCA leader, we need to go anywhere and attend party dinners. As a member, you are qualified to attend any party functions if you put on your party uniform and everyone can be in the picture.

"If you chose one or two pictures and try to go after a leader, it is not fair," stressed Ong who is also the housing and local government minister.

On the obituary, the MCA president said: "It was not wrong of me to send my condolence to a party member."

"This is something normal for MCA leader. MCA have one million members, if somebody in the party passes away, the branch or divisional leader will put up the condolence message on behalf of the leaders.

"After they put up the message, they will only tell you ' Oh , all the leaders' names are in, so I put yours also'," he added.

Ong's replies inadvertently confirmed that the two triad leaders were indeed MCA members.

Disciplinary action

Asked if the party would initiate disciplinary action against Youth chief Ong Tee Keat, who first raised the issue of triad links, Ong said: "I have spoken to him personally, he denied any involvement in the poison-pen letter and had no intention of accusing the party leadership of being close with triads leaders. I think the reporters has twisted his statement and played it up."

On the disciplinary committee's investigation against Tee Keat, the president said it would be resolved internally but declined to elaborate.