Ong Tee Keat not contesting Pandan seat

The guessing game over former MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat's participation in the general election ended today when he chose not to defend his Pandan parliamentary seat.

Instead, his former private secretary, Allan Tan Yew Leng, will be contesting the seat on an independent ticket.

Tan said the decision was made after obtaining Ong's blessing to go ahead with his aspiration to serve the people of Pandan.

"He did not say why he was not contending, only that his political career would not end abruptly and that he would continue to serve the Pandan constituents.

"We (constituents) all wanted Ong to contest but he expressed the hope that there are second echelon leaders to inherit his leadership in the Pandan parliamentary constituency and I got his blessing to contest," Tan told reporters before handing in his nomination papers at the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council Hall here.

Tan said he resigned from his post as Ong's private secretary yesterday after serving him for 12 years. Earlier Ong had floated the idea on his independent candidacy in his Twitter and Facebook pages to glean reaction from his supporters, leading to speculation that he would be contesting the seat as an independent candidate.