Former MCA president Ong Ka Ting finally broke his year-long fast from giving interviews and spoke exclusively to three Chinese dailies yesterday in the stable of Sarawakian tycoon Tiong Hiew King.

The interviews were conducted by Sin Chew Daily , China Press and Nanyang Siang Pau which belong to Media Chinese International Limited owned by Tiong, a timber tycoon and media baron.

ong ka ting interview 140408 02 It is believed that this is the starting gun for Ka Ting's elaborate and carefully calculated media blitzkrieg, a strategy he successfully employed during the 2005 party polls, which will later include Internet publications and television interviews

Yesterday, the three interviews with Chinese dailies were conducted separately, the content being mostly similar, although the emphasis differed for the individual newspapers.

In his interview with Sin Chew Daily , Ka Ting denied that he is taking on the role of 'messiah' for the troubled MCA, paralysed by months of infighting.

"The mission to save or unite party cannot be left to an individual leader. It needs the cooperation of leaders at all levels," he said.

"I just hope that with my experience and the result of uniting 'Team A and Team B' during my five-and-a-half years tenure, coupled with my understanding of the party controversies, I can bring unity and stability back to the MCA."

Soon after helming the party following the Umno-brokered peace deal between then president Ling Liong Sik (Team A) and his deputy Lim Ah Lek (Team B) in 2002, Ka Ting introduced several reforms including limiting the president's term to nine years and introducing the 'healthy political culture' concept.

Inspired by joggers

Should Ka Ting win the party presidency during the March 28 elections, he can only serve for another three and a half years, but he said that is more than enough time to heal the party since he managed to unite Team A and Team B in less than a year.

He said that he faces an uphill battle during the upcoming polls because he no longer enjoys the same advantage and influence as he did when he was president.

Ka Ting chose not to seek re-election during the party polls in October 2008.

He described his comeback bid as "dangerous" but was willing to sacrifice himself and hopes that the 2,400 central delegates would put the party first.

China Press highlighted an anecdote where Ka Ting was inspired to vie for party presidency because of a chance meeting with several people while jogging at a park in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) a week ago.

"People were asking me, why do you still have time to come out for a jog? MCA is about to close shop! Why are you not saving MCA?" said the joggers, according to Ka Ting.

He said he was stunned by their comments and began reconsidering whether to keep his promise not to interfere in party affairs after stepping down.

Ka Ting also provided a carrot for delegates by promising to review the loopholes in the party constitution that allowed "excessive" powers to the party president to prevent its abuse.