The Strength Of Ong Ka Chuan’s Political Clout
December 8, 2007
Who is Ong Ka Chuan? Some might know him as MCA’s secretary-general, a somewhat powerful post within the party. Others might know him as Ong Ka Ting’s elder brother.
For me, Ong Ka Chuan will forever be remembered as the arrogant man who lost big and somewhat shamefully during the 11th General Elections.
It was the year 2004, and during the start of the campaigning for the elections, the Ong brothers were so confident with their political influence and power that Ong Ka Chuan was expected to beat DAP’s Fong Po Kuan in the Batu Gajah parliamentary elections. They were so confident that they even predicted the margin of victory - about 5000 votes.
It was the year 2004, and I was still an avid reader of The Star. Reading this prediction from my most trusted source of news then, I thought that this Ong Ka Chuan fella was quite ‘lansi’ or arrogant.
For those of you that do not remember exactly what happened, when the votes were finally counted, Fong Po Kuan crushed Ong Ka Chuan by a 7927 vote majority. For someone who was so confident of his victory, to fall so hard and so far would surely spell the end of his political career.
Would Ong Ka Chuan retire from politics? Or would Ong Ka Chuan continue to be relevant in the political arena?
As it turned out, Ong Ka Chuan, even with such a shameful defeat, was still considered an MCA strong man. In 2005, he was appointed MCA’s secretary-general.
Since then, Ong Ka Chuan has been flitting in and out of our consciousness, with the occasional news reports with his name. But really nothing relevant, since he was just a party instrument and not someone that the people elected into Parliament.
But Ong Ka Chuan has slowly but surely been creeping up into our consciousness once again. With the 12th General Elections around the corner, there has been an increasing number of news reports about him, and this is purely designed to remind the people that he can still be relevant, that he is not a waning political power. Some examples:
In July 2007, Ong Ka Chuan as MCA’s Secretary-General declared that Malaysia was a secular nation. He said this in response to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak who claimed that Malaysia was an Islamic nation. For someone with such considerable political strength, it still remains to be seen whether he was taken seriously by his fellow brothers and sisters in UMNO. Everyone can guess the answer to that, I think.
Merely 2 days ago, Ong Ka Chuan then made news again when he advised Chinese youths to join the civil service. This was his ’sales pitch’ to Chinese youths:
IPOH: Join the public sector as a national service and not for monetary gain, the MCA has advised Chinese youths.
Party secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan said that instead of looking at it from an income point of view, the community should see it as a form of national service.
He said the Chinese formed only a small percentage of employees in the public sector, adding that this should not be the case.
“The civil service is a national service and all races should be part of it,” he said when addressing 900 Chinese association representatives at a dinner organised by the Ipoh Timur MCA division here on Tuesday.
Ong said the MCA would have a series of talks and roadshows at institutes of higher learning, youth associations and clubs to get Chinese students interested in joining the civil service.
He also disclosed that the party was discussing with the Public Service Department to offer scholarships to those intending to join the public sector.
Citizens love politicians that lead by example. You know, those politicians that just don’t talk the talk, but walk the walk. Does Ong Ka Chuan have kids? Heck, does Ong Ka Chuan have grandkids? Will Ong Ka Chuan have the same ‘advice’ for his kids or grandkids? Or does the ‘advice’ only apply to Chinese youths who can’t afford or qualify for a university education in this country? Something to ponder…
Yesterday, Ong Ka Chuan made news again, when he took a jibe at Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar was in India to participate in the International Islamic Peace Conference, and to answer some questions on the Hindraf issue.
In a Malaysiakini report, Ong Ka Chuan claimed that Anwar was exploiting the Hindraf issue for his own political gain:
Earlier today, MCA slammed Anwar for going to India in the wake of a massive rally organised by Hindraf on Nov 25.
The party’s secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan claimed that the opposition stalwart had gone to India to seek foreign support to interfere with the domestic affairs of Malaysia.
“It is obvious Anwar is going all out to exploit the (Hindraf) issue for his political gain. It is in fact a desperate attempt to revive his waning political strength,” he said.
I don’t know about Anwar, but it seems quite obvious to me that the sudden blizzard of news reports involving Ong Ka Chuan could be a desperate attempt to revive HIS waning political strength.
Example of pot calling the kettle black?
On Ong Ka Chuan’s future, last month, Perak Menteri Besar Tajol Rosli Ghazali said that Ong Ka Chuan should contest in the Lenggong constituency during the next elections.
Lenggong is a somewhat new parliamentary seat in Perak, and was carved out of the Grik parliamentary constituency in 2003. FYI, Grik is known as an UMNO stronghold, so carving Lenggong out of Grik means that UMNO now has two strongholds! Such ingenious methods to win a landslide victory! This was clear during the last elections when UMNO easily beat the other PAS contender.
If Ong Ka Chuan were to run in Lenggong during the next general elections, my feeling is that Ong Ka Chuan will still easily win this seat even with 78.4% of voters who are Malay. These days, it is clear that a vote for MCA equals a vote for UMNO.
However, what does Ong Ka Chuan think of all this? As the secretary-general of the party who allegedly represents the Chinese, shouldn’t Ong Ka Chuan flex his considerable political strength and contest in a Chinese majority seat? I’m thinking, maybe the Ipoh Timur or the Ipoh Barat seats. Perhaps, even the Batu Gajah seat, since it would make such a great revenge story if he finally beats Fong Po Kuan.
It takes anyone to make fun of Anwar Ibrahim’s political strength. Ong Ka Chuan could do it, even Joe Anonymous could start a blog and do it. But when it comes down to it, has Ong Ka Chuan got the ‘cojones’ to pit his political strength against Anwar Ibrahim’s political strength?
Ong Ka Chuan says the darndest things!
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12 Responses to “The Strength Of Ong Ka Chuan’s Political Clout”
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oNg kA ChuaNG?
Cheese… I haven’t heard of him man… “Seriously”
Klaw: His political powers so impressive, very geng chau wan.
December 8, 2007 at 3:49 pm
Now we see the connection. No wonder that SIL was so confident to declare (Bernama’s Report ,December 06, 2007 21:59 PM)
“recent developments in the country even showed opportunities had improved for the non-Malays in the government service”
There must have been a pact recently. We can see more MCA sponsored Police Inspectors (not the mata-mata type) or intelligence officers to spy on the opposition. But anyone interested on “national service pay”? More details
Go H E R E
and more Kindraf bashing before the ISA?
December 8, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Join the civil service as a form of national service? Not for the money?
Then how come Ong Ka Chuan owns part of McDonald’s in Gunung Rapat, Ipoh? I can also confirm that he helped teachers get licences to open tuition centres (so that his son can remain in the tuition class).
Hell, my brother is a classmate of his son, and it seems that all the teachers are afraid to offend his son.
Geng chau or not?
Not for the money ah? Pls don’t insult our intelligence, Ong Ka Chuan…
December 12, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Henry,
I guess we can’t stop him from owning businesses, since there is no law against politicians owning or investing in a business. If there were, then most politicians sitting in Parliament would be guilty.
But anyway, how did he help teachers get licenses? Via the legal way or illegal way?
December 13, 2007 at 12:04 am
Yeah, is it a sin to own some business? Would you like it if someone went up to you and say,’Hey Henry Lim, you own a part of this business, how did you do it? By a scandal? Did you cheat or something?’ So think before you speak okay? You say that to people, but what if one day someone accuses you of cheating or doing illegal way when you own a little business? Answer that before you utter another word. As for the tuition centre thing, come on, can’t he help anyone? You think that everyone does good things just because they want fame or fortune or something good out of it? He does it to help others, not to make sure his son stays in the centre. If he wanted his son to stay in a tuition centre, its really simple, but since you don’t understand it, let me explain it to you, slowly. He asks his son to study well during tuition. Simple isn’t it? Even a child could have comprehended that. You don not need to have any money or status just to let your child have tuition classes unless he’s too bad. So, I have absolutely no idea why are you writing nonsense about things that can be reasoned rationaly. I mean, you really did not have to write that he does scandals or whatever to gain his status. Oh by the way? As a parting comment, can you say you can justify a man’s actions just by glancing at him? Can you say you know Ong Ka Chuan, his motives and what he’s doing? You don’t. Don’t think I’m insulting you, I’m just stating the obvious. If you don’t want to accept that , fine, go your own way. Keep believing that people do good because they want something for themselves out of it. Of course, you wouldn’t understand the meaning of helping people beacuse they feel happy helping people do you?
January 7, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Nope I’m not insulted at all, Robyn. We’re all entitled to our own opinions. I do respect your point of view but you don’t have to get emotional ok?
I didn’t say it’s a sin to own businesses. It’s the means of which the ownership is acquired that concerns me. Unfortunately there are no clear right or wrong in such matters. We can’t get into the person’s head to see what the motives are, but his actions speak a lot.
Also, “doing good” is very subjective. For those who are in the receiving end of the deed, of course what Ong did is seen as a good deed. If I could earn millions thanks to Daim Zainuddin, I don’t mind giving him part of my business too. I would think Daim is a good person. Why do the people think bad of him then?
Oh btw I heard that Ong Ka Chuan reprimanded the principal cuz his son didn’t get an A in PMR Kemahiran Hidup…haha. He IS extremely arrogant…..no doubt about that! =)
January 9, 2008 at 12:06 am
Okay…so you say his actions speak for himself. But have you seen him doing any wrong? Nope, so far, I haven’t. But if you want to say it your way, go ahead, fine. Not like I can reprimand you or somthing.
Where did you hear that? Did you listen to a rumour, or did you make it up yourself? Many students got B for their KH, so what’s there to complain? And hello, how the heck is he going to reprimand the principle? It’s not as if the principal gave the marks. And anyway, if he wanted his son to get A for KH, he would have gone to the Jabatan of Pendidikan like anyone would right?
Arrogant can be used two ways, pal. One way is when the guy is really arrogant, and everyone knows that, two, is when someone is jealous of someone ’cause they’re better than them and say that they are arrogant, just because they’re powerful.Get my drift?
January 9, 2008 at 2:10 pm
You’re getting emotional again, Robyn. Calm down please will ya?
Well I agree with your point “Many students got B for their KH, so what’s there to complain?” But every teacher and student in Sam Tet knows that Mr Ong complained to the principal, who in turn demanded from the KH teacher why so many students got a B (FYI the marks that a student gets from the KH coursework counts towards the overall KH grade, and it is assessed internally according to Jabatan guidelines)
I’m not too sure whether he did complain to the Jabatan but fortunately the grades are already out (and rather finalised I’m afraid). Otherwise Mr Ong might have used his influence to pressure the Jabatan.
I do get your drift but fortunately I’m not like the someone you described. I don’t envy his position at all. If I remember correctly Mr Ong comes from a poor family in Lenggong and politics is his rice bowl. But having achieved his current position he would have backstabbed many. There is no turning back for him now - there is a Chinese saying “living in the jianghu, your body (actions) is not yours to control”.
Doing good to others is just a way to reduce his ‘karma’. I know he helps certain individuals, but I honestly hope that he can balance between his political position and the welfare of the people. I think the reason why he lost to YB Fong Po Kuan in Batu Gajah was that people know that Mr Ong puts himself before the people.
Probably arrogant is not a good word to describe him but ’self-centered’ certainly fits. =) Hope that helps you understand, Robyn.
January 9, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Oh ya…I don’t see Daim and Ling Liong Sik doing wrong too, hehe
(cuz nobody in the govt prosecutes them)
January 9, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Henry,
What I think the readers want to know is how you can back up your claims.
I know you well enough to know that you won’t just write anything without any verification on your part, but not all things are easily verified, especially the following:
1. Helping teachers open tuition centers so that his son can remain in tuition class.
2. Reprimanding Sam Tet principal because his son got a B in KH.
Those are assertions that can keep this blog owner in trouble with libel lawsuits (gotta protect my ricepot also yeah
), so until you can substantiate that he did those things, all blog readers should assume those are just hearsay and cannot be proven in a court of law.
January 10, 2008 at 2:01 am
OK cool old pal…in the future I’ll only say things which I can substantiate
January 11, 2008 at 11:21 pm
dear henry,
i am just an outsider reading this but i rather find myself disappointed after reading so long to find that wat i read may not be true.this may lead guests that may have visited this page to have the wrong impression on certain important individuals out there and in the process, risking their high-stakes career.so pls becareful of watever you write(like wat you said, politics is his rice bowl, his son ricebowl, his wife ricebowl or any others that are depending on him).not here to hurt your feelings but just as an advise for the best interest for all as most of us here are searching over the internet just to find some TRUTH any little TRUTH may be lying out here in the world wide web.hence, goodluck and good day my fren.
February 16, 2008 at 12:18 am