Ong Tee Keat announced today that he will be defending his post as MCA president at the party leadership elections on March 28.

He made the announcement at a packed press conference in the MCA headquarters this evening as a group of 100 orange T-shirt clad supporters chanted his name.

mca agm 070310 ong tee keat 04 They also unfurled a banner which read, ‘MCA needs pride, MCA needs tomorrow, we want Ong Tee Keat’.

Ong said he is contesting the post again to pursue his party reform agenda.

"The road to transformation and change is more often than not a lonely one that is fraught with challenges." said Ong.

"I admit that in my zeal in instituting changes in the party, I have taken a number of hard knocks and learned a few lessons. But I meant nothing else but good for our party."

Known as a 'lone ranger' within the party, Ong however expressed his willingness to work his rivals in MCA.

"I can and will work with anyone who ultimately has the interest of the people, community and party in mind.

"We are prepared and are willing to defend the rights of all Malaysians, particularly the Malaysian Chinese community, to realise the dream of 1Malaysia," he added.

"There is a lot of unfinished work to do, and my team and I will continue to soldier on with our struggles."

Today's announcement came as no surprise as Ong had strongly hinted that he would not be retiring from politics in his speech during the party's controversial annual general meeting last Sunday.

The AGM was boycotted by two key factions in the party, led by deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek and vice-president Liow Tiong Lai respectively.

Both Chua and Liow, who are meeting their supporters across the country, have yet to announce which posts they are eyeing in the upcoming party polls.

No need for a running mate

Ong said there was no need for him to team up with anyone because the party election is different from the presidential elections in United States and Taiwan where one needs a running mate.

NONE Ong also appeared unperturbed when asked on whether the Chua-Liow pact would post a problem to his chances of winning.

“I’m really not keen on this kind of alliance, because it is based on political interest which cannot hold for long,” he said.

Ong, when asked about his chances of retaining the post, smiled and said: “I don't even know who my contenders are, how am I going to rate my chances? It is still too early, too premature (to make an estimation).”

He also refuted media commentaries suggesting he will be the underdog in the upcoming race. Ong claimed that he has received strong support from within and outside the party.

“People can say what they think. In fact, in a democracy, we cannot stop people from speculating,” he said.

When asked on the clamour from some quarters for former president Ong Ka Ting to make a political comeback, Ong said he will only comment on the issue when the time comes.

MCA chief for less than two years

Ong was first elected as president during the party election in October 2008 after defeating Chua Jui Meng. Jui Meng has since resigned from the party and joined PKR last year.

However, MCA became embroiled in a crisis after the election, resulting in an extraordinary general meeting last October after the party's presidential council headed by Tee Keat himself decided to adopt the recommendation of MCA's disciplinary board to sack his deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek following the latter's involvement in a sex DVD scandal.

But the over 2,400 delegates stunned everyone by making dramatic decisions when they approved a vote of no confidence against Ong while at the same time rejected Chua's attempt to be reinstated as deputy president.

Later, both Ong and Chua patched up under MCA's 'Greater Unity Plan' but the crisis continued to simmer as it was rejected by some other leaders.

Last week, Chua, together with 22 central committee members, including four vice-presidents, resigned from their posts to force fresh party polls.

Nominations for the polls will be held on March 22.