DAP’s Kian Ming says won’t contest GE15

DAP’s Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming says he will not run in the 15th general election, adding that he intends to take a break from the political frontline.

Ong, who has served as an MP for nine years, however said that he was not retiring from politics, only “taking a break to regroup and recharge”.

“While the results of the recent DAP central election committee elections did play a role in confirming my decision to take a break from frontline politics, it was not the main reason for my decision.

“When I was first offered to be a candidate for the parliamentary seat of Serdang, my agreement with my wife was that I would serve out two terms and then re-evaluate the situation.

“Coming to the end of my second term, I believe that I have served my constituency, my party and the country to the best of my abilities. It is now time for the younger generation in the party to take over the reins of leadership,” he said.

Adding that he had full confidence in the leadership of Anthony Loke Siew Foke as the DAP secretary-general, Ong urged all members and leaders to show him their support as well, heading into GE15.

“I believe that Loke and the party leadership will continue to provide younger members and leaders opportunities to serve the party in various capacities including to be fielded as candidates in GE15,” he said.

“I promise to give my full support for whoever the party names as the candidate for P102 Bangi in GE15. In the meantime, I will continue to serve my constituency and the party until parliament is dissolved.”

Ong had been one of two MPs from DAP who openly urged the party to consider an offer by Muhyiddin Yassin just before his resignation as prime minister, promising to undertake a list of reforms long championed by Pakatan Harapan in exchange for their support to prevent the collapse of the Perikatan Nasional government in the midst of the pandemic.

He and Damansara MP Tony Pua said in August last year that this would also prevent the return of “kleptocrats”, a reference to Najib Razak and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who between them are facing more than 80 corruption charges.