Ong Tee Keat
Encyclopedia
Dato' Sri
Ong Tee Keat is a Malaysian politician and current Member of Parliament for Pandan. He was the Transport Minister in the Malaysian federal cabinet
from March 18, 2008 to June 4, 2010. He was the 8th president of the Malaysian Chinese Association
(MCA).
, Ong went on to MBSKL for Form Six studies. Six years after graduating as a mechanical engineer, and while enjoying a lucrative post at an engineering firm, he quit to become political secretary to the then Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Lee Kim Sai
in 1986.
Ong is married to Datin Seri Chooi Yoke Chun and has three daughters.
A gifted writer, Ong, who has won several literary awards for his works was once a columnist for Chinese daily Sin Chew Jit Poh
. His articles ran from 1979 to 1986.
who was standing on a Semangat 46 ticket. Ong beat the former Umno strongman by 4,500 votes. He went on to hold the seat for four terms before contesting and winning the newly created Pandan parliamentary seat in the 2004 general election
. He successfully defended the seat in the 2008 general election
.
When Ong was MCA Youth chief, he criticised the party top brass for the decision in 2002 to acquire Nanyang Press Holdings Bhd
. A few years later, he was censured by the Cabinet for speaking out at the shoddy renovation work at a Chinese school in Muar, Johor.
Ong was previously Deputy Youth and Sports Minister until the Cabinet
reshuffle in 2006, when he was appointed Deputy Higher Education Minister.
was elected deputy president. This set forth a tumultuous partnership, and eventually Dr Chua expelled from the party by the Disciplinary Committee for his involvement in a sex scandal.
An extraordinary general meeting of the MCA was held on October 10, 2009 in which a vote of no confidence was passed against Ong and his deputy, Chua Soi Lek
.
Ong Tee Keat refuses to resign. Instead, he and Chua have agreed to bury the hatchet to unite and strengthen the party without any conditions under a "greater unity" plan. He said Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai
still as legitimate deputy president of MCA as it is elected by the Central Committee. Dato'Sri Liow was later removed from the deputy president's post by the Registrar of Societies which declared that the post was never vacant to begin with.
Some Central Committees who were previously supporting Ong, led by Liow Tiong Lai, turned against Ong and attempted to demand for a re-election for the Central Committee. They were supported by MCA Youth Chief, Wee Ka Siong
, and also the MCA Women Chief, Chew Mei Fun. Finally, these Central Committees, and also a few other CCs led by Chua Soi Lek, together resigned and forced a re-election, as they have achieved at least 2/3 majority of the CC, as per the party constitution.
, who came back in popular demand. He did not appoint any partner to contest for the Deputy Presidency, unlike Chua who appointed Kong Cho Ha
and Ong Ka Ting who appointed Liow Tiong Lai
.
Ong Tee Keat and Ong Ka Ting were both defeated by Chua Soi Lek. However, Ong Tee Keat had never promised to resign as Transport Minister.
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Ong Tee Keat is a Malaysian politician and current Member of Parliament for Pandan. He was the Transport Minister in the Malaysian federal cabinet
Cabinet of Malaysia
The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysia's government. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are accountable collectively to the Parliament. According to the Article 43 of the Constitution, members of the Cabinet can only be selected from members...
from March 18, 2008 to June 4, 2010. He was the 8th president of the Malaysian Chinese Association
Malaysian Chinese Association
Malaysian Chinese Association is a uni-racial political party in Malaysia that represents the Malaysian Chinese ethnicity; it is one of the three major component parties of the ruling coalition in Malaysia called the Barisan Nasional in Malay, or National Front in English.Along with the largest...
(MCA).
Personal life
The son of a fishmonger, Ong was an active grassroots MCA member even while at varsity. Educated at Confucian High School in Kuala LumpurKuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Ong went on to MBSKL for Form Six studies. Six years after graduating as a mechanical engineer, and while enjoying a lucrative post at an engineering firm, he quit to become political secretary to the then Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Lee Kim Sai
Lee Kim Sai
Tan Sri Lee Kim Sai is a Malaysian politician. In the 1980s and 1990s, he served as Health Minister, Labour Minister and Housing and Local Government Minister....
in 1986.
Ong is married to Datin Seri Chooi Yoke Chun and has three daughters.
A gifted writer, Ong, who has won several literary awards for his works was once a columnist for Chinese daily Sin Chew Jit Poh
Sin Chew Jit Poh
Sin Chew Daily （formerly known as Sin Chew Jit Poh）, is a leading Chinese-language newspaper in Malaysia. According to report from the Audit Bureau of Circulation for the period ending 30 June 2009, Sin Chew Daily has an average daily circulation of some 400,000 copies...
. His articles ran from 1979 to 1986.
Political career
After becoming a full-time politician in 1989, he contested the Ampang Jaya parliamentary seat. He faced a tough challenge in his maiden effort to be a member of parliament when he was pitted against former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Harun IdrisHarun bin Idris
Dato' Seri Harun bin Haji Idris was a Malaysian politician. He was born in Selangor, Malaysia. He worked as a field officer with the publicity department until 1948, when he was appointed District Officer for Gemas and Tampin, in the Malay Administrative Service.After a short spell as magistrate...
who was standing on a Semangat 46 ticket. Ong beat the former Umno strongman by 4,500 votes. He went on to hold the seat for four terms before contesting and winning the newly created Pandan parliamentary seat in the 2004 general election
Malaysian general election, 2004
General elections were held in Malaysia on March 21, 2004. The incumbent National Front government of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was re-elected with an increased majority.-Election results:...
. He successfully defended the seat in the 2008 general election
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
.
When Ong was MCA Youth chief, he criticised the party top brass for the decision in 2002 to acquire Nanyang Press Holdings Bhd
Nanyang Siang Pau
Nanyang Siang Pau or Nanyang Business Daily was founded by philanthropist-entrepreneur Tan Kah Kee on 6 September 1923 in Singapore, currently published in Malaysia...
. A few years later, he was censured by the Cabinet for speaking out at the shoddy renovation work at a Chinese school in Muar, Johor.
Ong was previously Deputy Youth and Sports Minister until the Cabinet
Cabinet of Malaysia
The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysia's government. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are accountable collectively to the Parliament. According to the Article 43 of the Constitution, members of the Cabinet can only be selected from members...
reshuffle in 2006, when he was appointed Deputy Higher Education Minister.
MCA presidency
In October 2008, Ong was elected MCA president, while Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi LekChua Soi Lek
Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek ; born 2 January 1947, also known as Chua Kin Seng, is a Malaysian politician from the state of Johor. He is married to Datin Seri Wong Sek Hin. They have three children...
was elected deputy president. This set forth a tumultuous partnership, and eventually Dr Chua expelled from the party by the Disciplinary Committee for his involvement in a sex scandal.
An extraordinary general meeting of the MCA was held on October 10, 2009 in which a vote of no confidence was passed against Ong and his deputy, Chua Soi Lek
Chua Soi Lek
Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek ; born 2 January 1947, also known as Chua Kin Seng, is a Malaysian politician from the state of Johor. He is married to Datin Seri Wong Sek Hin. They have three children...
.
Ong Tee Keat refuses to resign. Instead, he and Chua have agreed to bury the hatchet to unite and strengthen the party without any conditions under a "greater unity" plan. He said Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai
Liow Tiong Lai
Dato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai is a Malaysian politician who is currently serving as the Health Minister in the Malaysian cabinet. He is the deputy president of the Malaysian Chinese Association , a major component party of the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition.-Background:Born in Jasin, Malacca, Liow...
still as legitimate deputy president of MCA as it is elected by the Central Committee. Dato'Sri Liow was later removed from the deputy president's post by the Registrar of Societies which declared that the post was never vacant to begin with.
Some Central Committees who were previously supporting Ong, led by Liow Tiong Lai, turned against Ong and attempted to demand for a re-election for the Central Committee. They were supported by MCA Youth Chief, Wee Ka Siong
Wee Ka Siong
Datuk Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong is a Malaysian politician who has served as Member of Parliament of Ayer Hitam, Johor since 2004....
, and also the MCA Women Chief, Chew Mei Fun. Finally, these Central Committees, and also a few other CCs led by Chua Soi Lek, together resigned and forced a re-election, as they have achieved at least 2/3 majority of the CC, as per the party constitution.
Party Central Committee re-election
Ong Tee Keat contested in the re-election to defend his Presidency, against his former Deputy, Chua Soi Lek, and also his predecessor, Ong Ka TingOng Ka Ting
Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting is a Malaysian politician and a former Minister of Housing and Local Government in the Malaysian cabinet. He is also the former President of the Malaysian Chinese Association and is the Member of Parliament for Kulai.-Early life:...
, who came back in popular demand. He did not appoint any partner to contest for the Deputy Presidency, unlike Chua who appointed Kong Cho Ha
Kong Cho Ha
Dato' Seri Kong Cho Ha is a Malaysian politician and is currently the Minister for Transport in the Barisan Nasional coalition government of Najib Tun Razak and the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Lumut constituency in Perak. He is a member of the Malaysian Chinese Association .Kong...
and Ong Ka Ting who appointed Liow Tiong Lai
Liow Tiong Lai
Dato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai is a Malaysian politician who is currently serving as the Health Minister in the Malaysian cabinet. He is the deputy president of the Malaysian Chinese Association , a major component party of the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition.-Background:Born in Jasin, Malacca, Liow...
.
Ong Tee Keat and Ong Ka Ting were both defeated by Chua Soi Lek. However, Ong Tee Keat had never promised to resign as Transport Minister.