NGO Amanah deputy president Ong Tee Keat said that it is "too soon" for the fledgling organisation to convert itself into a political party.

Ong who is a former MCA president, said this in an exclusive interview with Malay-language daily Sinar Harian.

There are many who expect the NGO, made up largely of political veterans, to turn political.

"I feel it's too soon for this as there are many processes which the NGO needs to go through," he said.

abdul kadir sheikh fadzir quits 140206 tears In an interview with Malaysiakini earlier, fellow Amanah deputy president Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir  ( left ) said there was pressure from some members of Amanah to turn the NGO into a political party.

Meanwhile, Ong told Sinar Harian that it was also erroneous to view Amanah, led by Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, as an NGO for "disappointed politicians".

Ong said there are also "BN strongmen and former high-ranking civil servants" in Amanah, and that he joined not because of disappointment with MCA but for the NGO's stand on national unity and corruption.

In this first part of the interview, the Pandan MP also opined that Chinese support for the BN is at a "critical ( tenat )" stage, and that most of those turning away are from the working class.

"The Chinese in general are seeking fairness, for example in terms of economic opportunities...most feel the Chinese have taken a large chunk of the economy but this is only concentrated among those with connections.

"Not the small traders...who do not have access to credit,who see no openings and are struggling to find a way out. What they seek is not extreme and does not go against the Federal Constitution," he said.