The Lone Ranger rides again, sans Tonto

ARCHIVES 2013

By admin-s On Nov 27, 2013

(fz.com) – So why then is he throwing his hat into the ring when the odds seem harder than 2010, where he garnered 578 votes to Dr Chua’s 901 and Ka Ting’s 833 votes.

Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat was not his usual self when met at his office at the Bakti Nusa foundation in Pandan Jaya yesterday.

He seemed distant, deep in thought and was distracted by the numerous phone calls that kept interrupting our conversation.

“I’m so sorry,” he said as he responded to his sixth text in five minutes.

“So many are calling to offer support … even the non-Chinese and those who had abandoned me,” he laughed.

He was referring to his surprise announcement on Tuesday that he was going to run for MCA president again.

Ong’s lack of focus on his guest can be forgiven. His thoughts were on the fight ahead, but he was also anticipating what his preferred running mate Datuk Gan Ping Sieu would be announcing at the latter’s press conference the same afternoon.

Gan, of course decided that he too would be a strong candidate for No.1.

If some of the party’s 2,385 delegates and analysts have it right, then Gan’s running mate would be Datuk Chua Tee Yong – son of current president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

The two youngest senior party officials will be offering youth and vibrancy, against the combo of experience presented by deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and vice president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong.

So now Ong finds himself in a familiar spot: all by himself!

“I want Gan. I was hoping I will get him but he too wants to go for No.1. He should build up some credentials first.”

So who will be his running mate?

“Well, I’m a Lone Ranger or singles player like you always say,” laughed the 57-year-old.

But even the Lone Ranger has Tonto.

“Yes, so I want Gan, but he has his own path to follow and I respect that,” Ong relented.

While acknowledging that he and his No.1 nemesis, the elder Chua had formed an understanding, it was far from a kiss and make up session.

Too much water had gone under the bridge with both leaders publicly going at each other’s throats since the bitter extraordinary general meeting and polls of 2010 which ousted Ong as president.

“There’s no such thing as a peace deal because anyone can always throw a spanner in the works,” he said, alluding to Dr Chua’s mastery of political chess and influence he holds over the delegates.

However with a new batch of delegates who do not necessarily listen to party elders and divisional chiefs, Ong feels he has a good chance, in this period of MCA’s life which seems to be a free-for-all.

Even then when he defended his presidency, Ong did not offer a running mate, while Dr Chua had Datuk Seri Kong Chor Ha and Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting paired up with Liow.

That EGM only served to further split an already divided party.

With his candidacy for the Dec 21st presidential election, Tee Keat will face similar accusations of putting his ego before the party.