THANK you for Elizabeth John's article on my book, The Lizard King ("A work of fiction, says Wildlife Department" -- New Sunday Times, Sept 21). She has captured well the essence of the story.

I was disappointed, however, with the response of the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan). It called The Lizard King "a fiction" and, in a letter to you, accused me of an "irresponsible act by the author to damage and tarnish the good name, integrity and commitment" of Perhilitan.

The letter complimented Anson Wong for running his business "legally and complying (with) the needs and requirements under domestic law".

I found it strange that a government agency would vouch for a private businessman. But, if that is the department's position, then it should feel reassured by my facts: all quoted references regarding the relationship between Wong and an officer or officers at Perhilitan were made by Wong himself in telephone conversations recorded by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as part of its investigation, or in faxes or emails written by Wong to an American undercover agent. (My other reference to Perhilitan was a letter written on Wong's behalf by a Perhilitan officer.)

In December 2000, Wong pleaded guilty in the United States to smuggling protected reptiles into the US from Malaysia. Wong's arrest was the culmination of one of the largest international wildlife investigations in history, involving Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico and the US.
Based in Penang, Wong admitted trafficking US$500,000 (RM1.7 million) worth of animals over a three-year period, and was sentenced to 71 months in prison.

Since Wong smuggled a large number of wildlife from Malaysia, it is possible that a Perhilitan officer or officers were complicit in these transactions, as Wong repeatedly said on tape, or that Perhilitan officers responsible for monitoring Wong's business did not do so effectively.

Those concerned about wildlife would realise that I had no intention to "tarnish" Perhilitan. Instead, they might respond to my book the way the Royal Malaysian Customs Department did -- promising "it would investigate the incident implicating one of its officers".