Khoo: Tee Keat's political career in MCA is over

Former MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s political career in the MCA is over.

This is the opinion of political analyst Khoo Kay Peng who was commenting on rumours of that Tee Keat might be running for presidency during the upcoming party elections.

“Tee Keat need the votes and support of some 2,000 branch and delegate members to make a comeback.

“Since his comeback is confined to the over 2,000 members, I would say that chances of him making the so called comeback is very low, as many of the members are angry with him,” Khoo told Astro AWANI.

Khoo said the anger was caused from Tee Keat’s agenda while he was the party president.

“The delegates are angry at Tee Keat because he didn’t put his focus on strengthening the party but instead his focus was more on fighting with current party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

“At once time, he even suspended MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and a lot of Wee’s supporters were unhappy with the move.

“These things affected Tee Keat’s leadership in MCA. The era of Tee Keat is gone,” he said.

Khoo said if at all Tee Keat makes a comeback to MCA, there would not be any sort of the much needed change within the party.

“He would not make an impact in MCA,” Khoo added firmly.

It was widely reported in the Chinese dailies that Tee Keat might be making a comeback to MCA by contesting in one of the top posts.

On Saturday however, Tee Keat has refused to outright deny or confirm the rumours that that he might be running for presidency during the party elections.

“I never said that (I want to run for presidency). That is how they interpreted it.

"I merely said if at all I want to get myself elected or, if I want to cast my vote in the MCA elections, then, I need to be a central delegate,” he had explained to Astro AWANI.

It was reported that MCA Pandan division chief Datuk Ong Chen Huing has agreed to relinquish his post, a move that is believed that will pave the way for the ex-MCA president to contest for the top post.

Should Tee Keat, who is currently an ordinary member, take on the post Chen Huing relinquishes, it would ultimately make Tee Keat eligible to contest for the MCA top post.

However, Chen Huing, in the news report, clarified that his intention to step down was mainly due to his intention to put more focus on running his business and not "to make way" for Tee Keat.

Tee Keat was the MCA president for only a year before he was unseated.