An evening with Ong Tee Keat
Mr. Ong, at the outset of the session, said that he and his team are on their own, as even his party is not supportive of him and his work, and many members do not dare appear to be too close to him.
Daniel Teoh Tzu Yong
Looking at the bustling service centre, it will be difficult to believe that the person who is responsible for all of it – the staff, the posters, the visitors – will not be defending his constituency.
Dato Sri Ong Tee Keat is the living embodiment of the classic Chinese siew cai (scholar) success. Growing up in a Chinese area in downtown Kuala Lumpur, he was known for his writing prowess in Mandarin, contributing to newspaper columns and writing drama scripts. Upon obtaining an engineering degree, he ventured into politics and won his maiden fight for the Ampang Jaya Parliamentary seat. The modern siew cai rose quickly despite being outspoken against his own party and coalition, eventually helming the Malaysian Chinese Association and securing the Cabinet post of Transport Minister.
Things are no longer rosy for the veteran politician now. He lost the party leadership to Mr. Chua Soi Lek and was eventually dropped from Cabinet as well in a reshuffle. The last knockout blow was when he did not make it to the Barisan National’s candidate list, replaced by a much younger person from the MCA.
Having only done a Google search on him, it was with excitement and expectation that I entered Mr. Ong’s office to see for myself, the politician who is held in high esteem by the Malaysian Chinese public and what he has to offer to Pandan folks and national politics now that he is leaving the mainstream arena.
Freedom in Malaysian politics
Mr. Ong did not think that Malaysian politicians have much freedom in articulating their own views. He described most Malaysian political parties to be ‘Leninist’ in nature, having in place restrictive party whips.
Taking into account his maverick reputation and outspokenness, it should have been frustrating during his time in power to want to say something badly, but could not.
New Politics
When asked whether he has heard of this term and his views on it, his reply was most cutting-edge.
He stated that voters should have a fair picture of a politician’s sincerity. Thanks to his decade-old habit of keeping newspaper clippings, he remarked that some of our current politicians are saying things which they stood against some time ago.
Refusing to provide an example, Mr. Ong cited the case example of fighting corruption. While it is easy to see people standing up to fight unjust enrichment and power abuse by the other side, he said that to stand up against one’s own allies is more difficult as it requires more courage and as a consequence, less seen. These people, according to Mr. Ong, are the better breed of politicians as they hold a uniformed yardstick, against which they measure both friend and foe.
I found that to be something, coming from the man who rattled the cages of powerful people when he started investigation into the billion-ringgit Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal, to the extent of even threatening to reveal names when the issue was raised in a debate between Lim Guan Eng and Chua Soi Lek.
New and young voters
Mr. Ong has this to say to this vibrant and upcoming group: beware of politicians.
It is important for voters to know who they are voting for, or against, and there is no better way to do this than taking the time to visit history. Mr. Ong does not believe that any politician can shed his colours overnight, and will only do so for perks and privileges.
Therefore, if the young voters were to believe in a ‘parti malaikat’ (angelic party), it is they who would be disappointed when the truth is found to be otherwise.
Mr. Ong urged young Malaysians to be critical-minded and not simply buy into the arguments for or against any side.
When asked about the disillusionment of certain people towards politics, the veteran politician encouraged them to once again take part in active discourse, as he thought that bystanders do not have the right to moan and groan about the state of things.
Penang and the undersea tunnel
It is only natural to seek the views of a former Transport Minister on the controversial project, and on the argument of the caretaker Penang state government that public transport licensing is under federal purview.
Mr. Ong confessed to having a soft spot for Penang, as his wife is a Penangite.
The former MCA President mentioned that the Penang Port had been reluctant to dredge the Penang seabed, and this was during his tenure as Transport Minister. He compared the depth of Port Klang, which he estimated at about 17 metres, to the 10 metres of Penang Port’s.
This, according to Mr. Ong, is a crucial aspect when considering the feasibility of the project.
Assessment of Pakatan Rakyat Selangor
Mr. Ong is said to be extremely familiar with the Pandan constituency. When asked to assess, he replied that they could have done better.
What was interesting was the following comment. Malpractices and mismanagement from the previous Barisan National is not to be inherited, especially in appointed municipal councilors.
Sounds like the change was for the better.
The man himself
As we neared the end of the interview, the conversation touched upon more personal topics, like his recommended choice of reading.
Mr. Ong professed to be a fan of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Sun Yat Sen. The reason given was simple: they were revolutionary.
The two figures perhaps contributed to his personal driving force. Mr. Ong painted himself as an idealist realist, saying that his engineering training helped him to get things done, instead of merely conceiving ideas.
He recommended the book 1984 by British writer George Orwell, and said he derived great pleasure by reading A Lone Sail in the Sea, a Mandarin book by a 70s writer.
Conclusion
Mr. Ong, at the outset of the session, said that he and his team are on their own, as even his party is not supportive of him and his work, and many members do not dare appear to be too close to him.
In his firm and unwavering way, he vowed to continue giving and doing the best for the Pandan folks.
The mobile Chinese medicine van outside his service centre, dubbed Tabib Cina Mobile, surrounded by many elderly uncles and aunties looking for cure, played strong witness to those words.
