Ka Ting out of presidential race

Two-term MCA president Ong Ka Ting has announced that he would not be defending his post in the upcoming party polls, paving the way for a new leadership to take over.

“After three months of deep consideration, I have decided that in the October party election, I will not defend my post,” he announced at a press statement this evening.Meanwhile, party deputy president Chan Kong Choy has also stated that he will not defend his post.With Ka Ting and Chan both bowing out, the race to helm MCA has been left wide open with vice-president Ong Tee Keat and secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan as likely front runners. Other likely contenders include two former MCA vice-presidents - Chua Jui Meng and Dr Chua Soi Lek. Of late, the duo have sought to make a comeback and had won elections at the party's branch level.

Transition period

Explaining his move, Ka Ting said that he had initially considered resigning as MCA president following the MCA’s dismal performance in the March 8 general election. However, he decided to hold on to the post and ensure that MCA is given adequate representation in the cabinet first.

“The party grassroots generally understand the current political situation and trends. They want to see a transition and strategy change in MCA in light of the current difficult challenges ahead.“This (party election) is the starting point for the transition,” added the former local goverment and housing minister. Ka Ting’s decision to quit comes as a shock to political observers even though there had been small pockets of dissenters in the party clamouring for his removal.

'Healthy political culture’

Ka Ting’s legacy in MCA includes his “healthy political culture” campaign and a provision in the party constitution which limits members from holding party and government positions to only three terms.Having already served two terms as president, Ka Ting had the option of defending his post for a final three-year term.

At 52, Ka Ting is considered relatively young to retire from politics but he also started young in politics. He joined MCA in 1979 when he was 23.Ka Ting had previously served as a teacher before embarking on his political career as press secretary and later, political secretary to then transport minister Dr Ling Liong Sik. His rise up the ranks in the party has been rapid.He was elected MP of Pontian (later renamed Tanjung Piai) in 1990, which he held in the March 8 general election.Following the tumultuous ‘Team A - Team B’ split from 1999-2002, Ka Ting was appointed party president in 2003 after then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad brokered a peace plan.

His presidency was legitimised in the 2005 party election when he defeated sole challenger Chua Jui Meng for the post.

Meanwhile, MCA deputy-president Chan Kong Choy is also expected to announce his retirement plans soon, starting with not defending the deputy presidency in October.