KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 — Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, who has been described as a Lone Ranger, is attempting a comeback to the party mainstream by contesting for the MCA president’s post.

A Lone Ranger without a “Tonto,” because he has no running mate for the deputy president’s post, Ong says he is entering the fray to “pay back” the party for helping him build his political career. Ong became MCA president in October 2008 and was unseated by current president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek in March 2010. Ong, 57, was also the Ampang MP from 1989 until the May 5 general election, when he was not selected.

The Malay Mail (TMM): Why are you contesting the presidency?

Ong Tee Keat (OTK): It is time for me to pay back or to “re-tribute” to the party. I strongly owe the party because MCA gave me the opportunity and platform to embark on my political career. I started my full-time political career as a political secretary and was later elected MP until May this year. During my career as MP, I was a deputy minister, deputy speaker and a full minister (Transport). Why now? It is because the party is confronted with unprecedented challenges, especially after its dismal performance in the general election, following which people were casting doubt as to whether the party is still relevant. Perhaps with my experience and, at the same time, my acceptability within the community and among the people and other races, I could contribute whatever and wherever possible.

TMM: What are your plans if you win?

OTK: In a nutshell, it is to make the party relevant in the eyes of the public because ultimately in any general election, it is the people’s perception that counts. Also, I must say MCA does have sufficient resources in term of assets and people to rebuild itself. At the same time, the factions within the party need to be mended and that explains why, when I offer myself and someone asks about it, I say a working team is important but a factional team won’t work.

A working team should ideally embrace the leader within the party as long as he is committed to the cause. Then he or she should not be neglected and should be given a place, especially at this hour.

And to make the party relevant, certainly we must include in our agenda of transformation and reinventing the party the following dimensions — by approaching youngsters and womenfolk, Malaysians abroad and local people.

TMM: What are the main issues in the Chinese community?

OTK: In the present perspective, I am less convinced some issues confronting the Chinese community should be viewed communally rather than in the Malaysian perspective.

Our concern should be to view and address issues in the Malaysian perspective. For example, the economic transformation. I mean it should not be confined to the Chinese, but I wish to see wider scope of intra-ethnic collaboration in the economic sector. MCA must play and revise its role perpetually, not getting involved in businesses but to facilitate, going back to intra-ethnic collaboration.

TMM: Do you think MCA will end up like Gerakan, where the trust of the Chinese is no longer there as DAP is championing the community’s interests?

OTK: I must say we cannot simply judge them from the May 5 general election. The fact that when non-partisan Chinese in the community show concern in the coming MCA elections, I take it as a positive sign.

In many situations, I personally have been approached by members of the public, many of whom I don’t even know, asking me about MCA.

In the meantime, it is still too early to say they are fed up with opposition parties because it all depends on how we perform.

MCA could make a comeback and it depends on delegates who are going to their leaders, but at the end of the day, it will be the public who make a choice during the general election.

TMM: How do you rate your chances?

OTK: I must say that after a few battles, and given the fact my opponents have a peace plan, that seems to have confused a lot of people, including supporters from both major camps.

To me, I have friends who are supporters of both camps but in MCA politics, I don’t understand when I was no longer president, they switched camps. But I always respect people who make a choice.

I offer myself, I see nothing wrong with that because I am a delegate and I don’t think my announcement to run for the presidency deserves that kind of smearing in certain news portals by certain leaders just for the party elections. But I know who these people are and it is simply hypocrisy as on record they say they want a clean election but off it, they hit below the belt.