MCA president Ong Ka Ting chaired his last central committee meeting yesterday. Although a sombre mood descended upon the 30-odd members present, it was vaguely reminiscent of Dr Ling Liong Sik's departure as president on May 23 in 2003.

Ong and his deputy Chan Kong Choy had taken the same route of no return with their decisions not to defend their party posts in the MCA elections tomorrow.

ong ka ting interview 140408 06 But unlike the emotional farewell for Ling's decision to end his 17-year tenure as party president, there was little flow of tears at Ka Ting's last farewell.

Neither did Ka Ting receive the kind of accolades his former boss got from his comrades. With the exception of Wong Mook Leong, many responses were lukewarm.

The second-longest serving central committee leader Lim Si Cheng who was also MP for Senai merely wished both Ka Ting and Kong Choy a happy retirement.

Only two leaders from the women's wing, Chew Mei Fun and Tan Cheng Liang, were tearful over Ka Ting's departure.

Canadian Prime Minister John Macdonald once quipped that "anybody may support me when I am right. What I want is someone that will support me when I'm wrong."

Less forgiving towards Ka Ting

Bluntly speaking, politics is largely a matter of heart but Ka Ting was not blessed with support when he was wrong. His short-sighted policies and myopic political lens caused him much goodwill among his comrades.

Many were even less forgiving towards him. It was a changing but fatal fortune despite a great start in receiving the leadership baton from a mentor but gradually it slips from his control.

Ka Ting did the art of the possible in the sleazy world of politics: it consists in choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable.

ong ka ting interview 140408 11 He took the unpalatable and decided to take the knocks from his grave leadership errors by depriving himself a cabinet position and to end his three-year presidency prematurely.

He had paid a price he thought would help the party's future leadership to pick up the pieces after its devastating performance at the March general election.

In a July interview this year, when Ka Ting was asked what would he like the Chinese community to remember him for, he cryptically answered, "These questions are better answered after the party election on Oct 18."

Glory is fleeting in politics but obscurity is forever. Truly nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory. Many in no time would forget a politician's leadership mistakes and crave out a "larger-than-life" legacy when they finally depart from this worldly world.

But such is the cruelty of perception any politician worth his salt should face. After all, there are only two types of politicians, a cynic once said, "The incapable and those capable of anything."

At the height of his popularity, Ka Ting has proven to be that on both counts. He had proven to be capable in transforming the party into an effective and efficient NGO, said academician Prof Lim Teck Ghee.

"His nine-point party platform is a good illustration," he said.

Yet, Ka Ting is incapable of earning the trust and affection from his comrades, loyal stewards whom he had work alongside with him all these years under various presidents since 1986. "His grasp on truth and honesty is sometimes frail," a party veteran lamented.

On the other hand, there was a tint of sadness among those who had been beneficiaries of Ka Ting's benevolence and probably forgiveness from those he had unknowingly marginalised with the benefit of doubt.

End of pride and vanity

ong ka ting and chan kong choy mca 150805 Is the departure of Ka Ting and his deputy Chan Kong Choy reminiscence to that of Dr Ling Liong Sik and his deputy Lim Ah Lek, though under different circumstances?

While their departure as "anointed successors" was less dramatic compared to Ling-Lim Ah Lek's scenario in 2003, is it a price they had to pay in the quest for power?

Perhaps, it is worthy to note that while every leader has his disciples, it is always destiny that writes their biography. The 'Ong-Chan' political marriage of convenience is closing its chapter in MCA's history symbolised by their final presence at the Oct 16 central committee meeting.

Significantly, outgoing president Ka Ting in his final hours of the meeting had offered a "present" to the party.

The proposal on the Central Board of Trustees was not discussed and remain undecided, a matter he felt to be left to the new leadership to decide.

With that, the 7th outgoing president Ka Ting has marked the end of the pride and vanity of power play that has divided his "One MCA, One Dream" party motto.