Many Tunku Abdul Rahman College (Tarc) students have received anonymous letters since last week informing them that they could be possible 'phantom' members of MCA.

Those who checked with the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur confirmed that they were registered as 'members' of the party without their knowledge.

The letter bearing the signature 'Team B justice workers' also warned parents to take immediate action to protect their children since the Universities and University Colleges Act bars students from active participation in politics.

A Tarc graduate, Chong Yng Yng, who also received a copy of the letter told malaysiakini today that the letter aimed to alert students of a "big scandal" involving over a thousand Tarc students.

She said the letter informed the affected students that their personal particulars such as identity card numbers and addresses were obtained when they registered to attend a 'charity concert and dinner" last November.

The event, organised by a MCA Youth division, was held at the college hall in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysiakini learnt that students who submitted a photocopy of their identity card were able to purchase the concert tickets at a lower price.

"My father had complained to the college as well as to MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek about the incident and Lim said he was aware of it as many such complaints were received recently," said Chong.

No probe yet

MCA chief administration director Wong See Wah and the party's public complaints department chief Michael Chong confirmed that they have received numerous complaints over the matter but an investigation has yet to be initiated.

"There are so many [phantom members of the party] in the country, how can we handle all the cases?" said Chong when contacted.

He added that parents of the students whose names were registered as MCA members merely asked that their memberships be withdrawn.

"The parents have no intention to take further action like lodging police reports over the matter," he said.

Meanwhile, Tarc lecturer Dr Toh Kian Kok who was mentioned in the letter since he was the organising chairperson of the concert denied involvement in the registration of the students as MCA members.

Toh, who is the MCA Taman Mutiara Barat branch chief, claimed that the letter was an attempt to smear his reputation.

Related to MCA feud

"This must be a spill-over from the party's internal feud. It is unfortunate that the dispute is still going on up to this day. What can I do if other people want to smear me?" he said.

Toh said he had received many calls from parents and students seeking clarification.

"As far as I'm concerned, the party is aware of this issue but I don't know what they are going to do. For me, I am trying to handle it in a low-profile manner," he added.

Since last year, MCA has been plagued by an internal crisis which saw the party split into two camps Team A led by president Dr Ling Liong Sik and Team B helmed by the deputy president.

In April, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad presented a 'peace plan' to end the strife but observers say the conflict is far from over.

Tarc and the recently established Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) are managed by MCA.