Ong quits DAP, says no new party but ready to assist Khairy in GE16

Former deputy minister Ong Kian Ming has quit DAP after 14 years with the party, effective today.

In a resignation letter addressed to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke and DAP national organising secretary Khoo Poay Tiong, Ong (above) said he does not intend to join another political party in the near future or contest in the 16th general election himself.

“I remain committed to fulfilling the promise I made on the 10th of January 2026, to help Khairy Jamaluddin campaign in GE16, if he is given a seat to run in,” he said.

His departure follows several years of stepping back from formal DAP politics.

Ong failed to retain a place on the party’s central executive committee in March 2022 and subsequently announced that he would take a break from frontline politics and sit out GE15.

He later cited burnout and disagreements with certain party leaders among the factors behind his decision.

In September 2024, Ong also opted not to contest the Selangor DAP leadership election, saying doing so could put some party colleagues in a difficult position ahead of the national CEC polls.

More recently, he has been increasingly vocal about DAP’s political direction and electoral challenges.

His resignation comes just over two weeks after DAP’s Aug 16 special congress, where delegates overwhelmingly voted for the party to remain in the federal government until the end of the parliamentary term amid dissatisfaction over its electoral setbacks and the pace of reforms.

Days before the congress, Ong had laid out arguments for DAP to either remain in the cabinet or withdraw its ministers while continuing to support the government from the backbench.

Joined DAP in 2012

Ong joined DAP on Aug 27, 2012, after establishing himself as a political researcher and analyst.

“The position that the DAP has taken and continues to take on major national issues is consistent with my own political beliefs,” he said at the time.

He went on to serve as Serdang MP from 2013 to 2018 and Bangi MP from 2018 to 2022, as well as deputy international trade and industry minister from 2018 to 2020.

Ong was also an appointed DAP CEC member from 2019 to 2022 and an elected member of the party’s Selangor committee from 2018 to 2024.

In a Facebook post announcing his resignation, Ong thanked former Damansara MP Tony Pua for inviting him to join DAP and former secretary-general Lim Guan Eng for giving him the opportunity to contest the Serdang and Bangi seats and serve as deputy minister.

“It has been my pleasure and honour to work with the DAP members and leaders in Serdang and Bangi during my time as an MP from 2013 to 2022, serving the voters and residents of those constituencies as their elected representative,” he said.

Ong also said he would continue contributing through his “Are We OK” podcast, advisory roles and work with like-minded individuals.

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