MCA Gurney Drive branch chief Ong King Ee, better known as 'Jackie Chan', has been suspended by the party pending a police investigation into an allegation that he was trying to revive a secret society in Penang.

Party president Ong Ka Ting announced the decision after chairing a two-hour long presidential council meeting at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

Ka Ting said the "immediate and appropriate" action was in accordance with Article 45.24 of the party constitution which empowers the council to take disciplinary action against members.

The decision was also in line with the Article 14 which, among others points, stipulates that membership would automatically cease if the member's name is registered under the Crime Prevention Act or similar legislation.

The police had earlier put King Ee, the alleged leader of the Sio Sam Ong triad group, on their 'most wanted' list for attempting to revive the group, which is said to be linked to murder, drug trafficking, kidnapping and robbery. King Ee is believed to have fled the country.

'Isolated case'

To a question, Ka Ting said the current party mechanism is "very effective" in dealing with the admission of members, and that this case would not be used to conduct checks on Gurney Drive branch members or others.

"We cannot let an isolated case raise doubts that MCA does not have (an adequate) mechanism for membership admission," he said.

"The council decided after discussion that we have been doing our job in accordance with the party constitution. We will make sure this continues to be well implemented."

He said the party has "adequate safeguards" in its constitution and the Societies Act 1966 to ensure that people who violate the law are not admitted into the party. These provisions can also be used to terminate membership.

Ka Ting also claimed that "certain press reports could have given rise to certain misconceptions" pertaining to his alleged links with King Ee. He has denied any such connection and lodged a police report.

Statement 'misunderstood'

Asked to elaborate on a statement by Penang chief Wong Kam Hoong that it was unfair for the party to act against King Ee - as the latter was innocent until proven guilty - Ka Ting replied: "What (Wong) meant has not been well reflected in media reports."

King Ee (photo: left) became a MCA member in 2000 when he was recruited by the Bukit Bendera division. He was promoted to branch chief a year later.


The MCA president was later accused of having links with the triad leader. Ka Ting initially said he did not know who King Ee was but later changed his stand.

Last Wednesday, police issued a nationwide alert for the arrest of King Ee and right-hand man, Chee Kok Loong. They are alleged to be the leaders of Sio Sam Ong (literally, 'three little emperors').

In 1996, King Ee was placed under detention for drug trafficking and sent to the Simpang Renggam rehabilitation centre in Johor under the Emergency Ordinance.

Meanwhile, Ka Ting disclosed that MCA had set up 25 more divisions - now totaling 191 - in tandem with the updated electoral boundaries.

Last month, Parliament had passed amendments after the Election Commission's redelineation exercise, which added 25 parliamentary seats to the previous total of 194.