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.