MCA chief Ong Ka Ting has been told to step down until such a time that an independent judicial inquiry is held to clear him of allegations that he has links with a suspected triad kingpin.

DAP leader Lim Kit Siang said "the tainting of the MCA leadership with triad activities would willy-nilly mean tainting the government", and called on Ong to temporarily step down as MCA president and cabinet minister.

Ka Ting, who is also the local government and housing minister, is currently embroiled in a controversy surrounding his alleged ties with Ong King Ee, also known as 'Jackie Chan', and believed to be a leader of the Sio Sam Ong (Three Little Emperors) secret society.

The MCA leader has denied the allegation and lodged a police report.

King Ee had earlier served two years of detention without trial under the Emergency Ordinance for alleged triad activities, including drug trafficking and the gangland killing of six individuals.

Two weeks ago, the police issued a nationwide alert for King Ee - also the chairperson of an MCA Gurney Drive branch in Penang - for allegedly seeking to revive the secret society.

Police manhunt

Lim said the manhunt for King Ee has proven MCA Youth chief Ong Tee Keat right in accusing certain leaders in the Chinese-based party of having links with triads.

Tee Keat was given a rare reprimand by the MCA leadership early this month for tarnishing the party's image. Since then, however, the Youth chief has kept mum on the controversy.

"If Tee Keat's grave allegations of triad infiltration and influence in MCA circles ... were baseless, then why is he continuing as deputy minister when he should have been sacked for defaming the second biggest component party of the ruling coalition ... and even charged in court for the offence of criminal defamation?" Lim asked.

The opposition leader also ticked off Penang police chief Othman Talib for remarks made on Monday.

Othman had said that it was coincidental that King Ee was a MCA member and that the issue should not be politicised.

"The Penang police chief should strictly confine himself to police duties to uphold law and order and steer clear of political waters, and most of all should not allow himself to be made used of to bail out political parties or political personalities," said Lim.

The MCA presidential council suspended the membership of King Ee as of yesterday.

Media reports

Ka Ting's alleged involvement with triad elements had been the subject of media speculation in May, when the Oriental Daily News quoted him as denying having met King Ee and another suspected underworld figure named 'Ah Loo'. Their names were mentioned in a number of Internet postings .

He then issued a clarification on May 8, saying he had not met one of the two persons (meaning Ah Loo), but conceded having met King Ee.

Ka Ting repeated the clarification after The Malay Mail recently based a report on the first story published by Oriental Daily News , without picking up the subsequent clarification.

Lim, however, said Ka Ting's latest clarification has raised even more questions of "great public interest".

"When did Ka Ting first meet (King Ee) and what were their dealings or relationship over the years?" asked Lim.

He also asked if King Ee's name was one of the two given by Tee Keat to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in March, to substantiate his claim of triad infiltration into MCA, and urged Abdullah to reveal the names.

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