KUALA LUMPUR – Worsening racial tolerance and political chaos are among the reasons for former MCA president Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat’s return to mainstream politics.
He told The Vibes he felt a growing burden to contribute actively again, and when an “old friend”, Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal made him an offer for an electoral comeback, Ong accepted.
“I feel the need to restore racial harmony, confidence in the economy and to bring about sensibility in politics,” he said in an interview on the eve of nomination day.
Ong, 65, filed his candidacy for the Pandan seat yesterday, where he will face a five-cornered fight, his most notable rival being Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Rafizi Ramli, who is PKR deputy president. Other candidates in the fray are from Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional and Pejuang.
Ong left the political scene after falling out with MCA peers, and by his own reckoning, because of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal, which he criticised severely even though it implicated MCA leaders. Though criminal charges were filed against various individuals, no one has been convicted.
Ong’s exit was by losing the MCA presidential election in 2010, and consequently, the cabinet post of transport minister, which MCA traditionally held under BN administrations. He had been Pandan MP from 2004 until 2013 when he was dropped as a candidate for the general election that year. He formally quit MCA in 2017.
Ong said he paid the price for sticking to his principles over the PKFZ and had wanted MCA to be free from any whiff of corruption.
In his nine-year sabbatical from electoral politics, Ong said he kept himself busy with trade and culture engagements throughout the region.
Now, after changes in government since the 2018 polls, Ong said he is “horrified” to see worsening racial intolerance by some quarters.
“They racialise everything, from education to the economy.”
With the Covid-19 pandemic, Ong felt the country’s economy was poorly handled.
“I recall that (at one point) we only had two months’ reserve stock of rice. Food security is of concern, especially with the global supply chain issues.”
When Shafie offered him a platform to re-enter politics, Ong said he reflected long and hard, and finally said “yes” only recently.
He said he will lend Warisan his expertise in networking, especially with the ties he has secured in China in areas such as logistics to help boost the micro and macro aspects of the economy.
Ong said politics must be mature and sensible, with those elected making promises they can keep and not use race or religion.
“We should also be straying as far as possible from corruption, and not vice versa.
“Politics not be elitist,” he added.
As for racial harmony, Ong said that the country need not look far but emulate their Borneo counterparts in Sabah and Sarawak, who get along with each other because their focus is on progress.
As for contesting his old playground of Pandan, Ong conceded that Rafizi has an edge and the energy.
He regards Rafizi well, as someone who, like him, is also against corruption.
But Ong said he will be able to bring experience, having been in politics since the late 1990s.
Acknowledging Rafiz’s expert use of data analytics and social media in the election campaign, Ong said he will go “low tech” by using traditional and personal campaign methods, such as by visiting markets and meeting voters face-to-face.
“I believe they are keen to welcome me back.”
But, knowing the times, he adds, “I will also use social media to reach out, particularly to the young.” – The Vibes, November 6, 2022
