Former MCA president – Ong Tee Keat launches second book

TAN SRI Ong Tee Keat - best remembered as a former MCA president recently launched his book which is based on a compilation of essays about growing up in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur.

Ong said the book contained details about his growing pains, tribulations and how he almost dropped out of school at the age of 13 due to poverty.

The book is entitled: "Musings of Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat (2) -- the sentimental facade."

His tale of perseverance and opting to remain principled despite various political challenges may not have won him public office, but it did win admiration among many in the country.   

His late father was a fishmonger near the Cheras neighbourhood, which was the Chinese enclave of the then Kuala Lumpur capital, and despite the hardship, he earned a degree in engineering before joining MCA.

"The book constituents a series of compilations with the later chapters devoted to handling some social criticism. I want the book to be both entertaining and insightful."

The book steers clear of his political trial and tribulations after a rather eventful career in public office, including during his term as the Transport Minister.

Now 68, Ong heads a private think tank and has ties with China, where he travels to frequently to develop strong networks in the world's second biggest economy.

In the book, which is in Mandarin, Ong tries to articulate some of the delivery gaps and malpractices of the previous government administrations.

There is also a session of his interviews with journalists from China, Malaysia and Taiwan, who wrote a detailed account of him as a person rather than a politician.

Ong tried to make a comeback in the 2022 parliamentary election on the ticket of the Sabah - based Warisan party, but lost in the Pandan parliamentary seat to Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, the former PKR deputy president.

The book also touches on third party perceptions of Ong.

"It is also my musings about life, beyond my public appearance. I want the people to know other facets of me besides my political tenure."

This is his second book after the first was published 18 - years ago.

The publisher - Prestige Culture Publishing held the launch at the Han Chiang College in Penang.

"Penning a book is not easy. It is quite challenging to produce a book, knowing that people hardly read nowadays but it is something that I wish to share."

The book has breached 1,000 in sales since its publication last month. – July 13, 2025