MCA's Ong Tee Keat is a Lone Ranger & stubborn level-headed

KUALA LUMPUR: To many, the immediate reaction to MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s choice of appointees is one of surprise, even shock. But, why should it be?

If at all, it is expected of a leader who had in his presidential election campaign rooted hard for change and rejuvenation following the March 8 political tsunami which saw MCA’s worst-ever electoral performance.

Ong has also been a firm and tough leader – one who is willing to take charge and make difficult decisions. That is also perhaps what MCA sorely needs to pull itself out of the depths of a political quagmire in an extremely fluid socio-political environment.

Now, who will dare to continue labelling him the "Lone Ranger" of MCA? Some even described Ong as a "stubborn level-headed" leader before his rise.

In an interview with theSun, when asked the risk of not associating himself with a team in the party elections, Ong said: "It’s just a contest. The members decide. If lose, just go. It’s not the end of the world."

That is the brash principle-minded Tee Keat as he is widely known to be. He has remained that way since his tumultuous days in MCA Youth when even the then mighty MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik could not dislodge him.

After chairing his maiden central committee meeting for five hours on Tuesday, Ong spent about an hour explaining his party’s plans to tackle education, economy and corruption issues to reporters.

But he spent less than five minutes on the choice of his appointees after handing the list to reporters. That was, in a nutshell, getting his priorities right.

Ong refused to entertain queries from reporters who questioned his rationale for the appointments. And, rightly so, because the members have already spoken through the ballot and now is the time to get down to work.

The biggest shock to many was Ong taking charge of Johor MCA, a state touted to be deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s fortress.

Chua’s hopes of making a comeback to the Cabinet now appears to be extremely slim. He quit as health minister on Jan 1 after a video clip of him having sex with a woman companion was captured by spy camera and made public last December.

Some argue that by convention, the party deputy president would be appointed to the Cabinet. That is also widely quoted as the convention for all Barisan Nasional component parties.

That is inaccurate. There is nothing in the party constitution that says the deputy president should be a Cabinet minister.

Former MCA deputy president, the late Datuk Richard Ho, was not a minister, and acting MCA president Datuk Dr Neo Yee Pan was also dropped from the Cabinet.

In Umno, former deputy president Tun Musa Hitam quit as minister to join forces with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to challenge president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

And, former Selangor menteri besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib had to sit out for more than 10 years before making a comeback to the Cabinet.

Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik was Gerakan president but was not a cabinet minister for quite a while and then MIC deputy president Datuk S.Subramaniam also did not hold any government post.

Already, the media has started reporting about splits and leaders being sidelined in the two-million-member party which is Malaysia’s largest Chinese political movement.

Incisive, neutralising threats, insulating against danger and consolidation are adjectives that aptly describe Ong’s decisions.

But, isn’t that what politics is all about for politicians?

The Sun
13/11/08