Ong: Reform or status quo?

Ong: Reform or status quo?
By Himanshu Bhatt

Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat

SEBERANG PERAI (March 23, 2010): MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, who is defending his position in a fresh party poll on Sunday, said today the election provides an avenue for members to demonstrate if they want reform or the same situation as the pre-March 8 general election when the party lost heavily.

Asked if he was feeling the "heat", he quipped: "I've been facing the heat on both fronts - election heat and tropical heat. Which one are you referring to?"

"We are not in the least perturbed or disturbed by any speculation that we don't stand a chance or do stand a chance," he said.

Asked if there were too many splinter groups in the elections, he said: "In the name of democracy, can you stop anyone from contesting? You can't."

"You cannot say that since there are too many contestants, you have to shift the goal posts. That is not the answer."

Ong was speaking to reporters after performing the ground-breaking for the construction of a new school block at SJK(C) Sin Ya in Bukit Mertajam here today.

The transport minister was accompanied by central committee members Eng Hiap Boon, who is also Penang MCA deputy chief, and Tan Cheng Liang, who is the party's state Wanita head. Also present was Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Senator Heng Seai Kie, the party's information and communications bureau chief.

He said the lack of allocations for Chinese schools was forcing the community to solicit donations for upgrading of facilities and equipments, and to construct new buildings.

"I urge the federal government to contribute and support development projects in the schools so that society can benefit," he said. "When the Chinese community collect donations, it does not mean they are rich… The funds are often collected from small-scale traders and the general public who are of low income."

To a query, Ong said he welcomed any action by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to ensure there would be no corruption in the party elections.

"It is important that we do not shower money or promises… This is not a place where you can bid for tenders like in a business," he said.

MACC director of investigations Mustafar Ali reportedly said on Monday that the commission would monitor blogsites and media reports related to claims of money politics in the run-up to the MCA elections. -- theSun

Source: http://sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=44653

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Rupa-rupanya, Ong Tee Keat juga terasa bahangnya......