KUALA LUMPUR – DAP’s Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming has announced that he will take a break from frontline politics, and not offer himself as one of the party’s candidates in the upcoming 15th general election (GE15).
The former deputy international trade and industry minister acknowledged that the results of the DAP central executive committee election last March – where he failed to be elected – were among the factors for his decision.
“When I was first offered to be a candidate for the parliamentary seat of Serdang, my agreement with my wife was that I would serve out two terms and then re-evaluate the situation,” he said in a statement.
“Coming to the end of my second term, I believe that I have served my constituency, my party and the country to the best of my abilities. It is now time for the younger generation in the party to take over the reins of leadership.”
Ong was MP for Serdang from 2013 to 2018 before he won the Bangi seat in the May 2018 election.
He stressed that he is not retiring from politics but “merely taking a break to regroup and recharge”.
“I stand ready to serve the party and the country in the future if my services are required,” he said.
Ong said that he has full confidence in the leadership of Anthony Loke as the new DAP secretary-general, and urged all members and leaders of the party to show their full support to him in leading the party and Pakatan Harapan into GE15.
“I believe that Anthony and the party leadership will continue to provide younger members and leaders opportunities to serve the party in various capacities, including to be fielded as candidates in GE15,” he said.
He also promised to give full support for whomever the party names as the candidate for Bangi.
“In the meantime, I will continue to serve my constituency and the party until Parliament is dissolved,” he added. – The Vibes, May 9, 2022
