Suspended Penang MCA leader Ong King Ee - better known as 'Jackie Chan' - was being detained without trial because he posed a threat to national security and not for the gangland charges against him, said Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin today.

Speaking at a press conference at the Parliament lobby, the deputy minister confirmed reports that Ong was sent to the Simpang Renggam detention centre in Johor.

"This is because he poses a threat to national security," said Zainal, without elaborating.

Ong was originally accused of trying to revive a secret society called Sio Sam Ong (Three Little Emperors).

The gang was reputed to be responsible for a spate of robberies, kidnappings and murders, including the slaying of six people at a pre-wedding ceremony in Kedah more than a decade ago.

He surrendered to the police on July 31 and was immediately arrested under the 1969 Emergency Ordinances, which allows detention without trial for two years.

Under the ordinance, the detention order, like the Internal Security Act, can be renewed indefinitely.

The 60-day initial detention period for the suspended MCA Gurney Drive branch chief expired today.

Not involved

However, Zainal said based on investigations Ong was not involved in several of the charges against him and when quizzed by reporters as to what warranted his continued detention, the deputy minister reiterated that it was due to national security concerns.

He also stressed that a link cannot be drawn between the detainee's actions as an individual and the allegation that MCA was infiltrated by triad groups.

Party Youth chief Ong Tee Keat had earlier claimed that the Barisan Nasional component party had links with several underworld bigwigs.

The situation worsened when a poison-pen letter began circulating in May, accusing newly appointed MCA president Ong Ka Ting of having ties with King Ee and another triad leader.

Ka Ting was also alleged to have abused his previous position as deputy home minister by signing a directive to release King Ee from restricted residence then..

The MCA president denied the allegation and later lodged a police report on the matter.

He also dismissed photographs circulated on the Internet depicting him in the company of the triad leaders saying that they did not show "specific indication of anything illegal".