DAP leader Nga Kor Ming has been a five-term lawmaker, but despite his best efforts during this period to push for unity and a multiracial agenda, his critics always circle back and brand him a chauvinist.

Nga does not shy away from making his thoughts known, and this, he said, is the reason why he had become a target for cyber troopers.

“I am also a victim of demonisation against DAP in the past six decades. One of the greatest victims is Lim Kit Siang,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“I was regarded as a very vocal speaker, because of the nature of my profession as a litigation lawyer, which I have actively been in practice for 20 years. I was asked by DAP to go on a roadshow to 13 states to convince Malaysians to support the party in 2018.

“Throughout the process I have spoken in more than 2,000 venues and of course out of this, there are statements that have been twisted by cyber troopers. For those who know me personally, they know that is not who I am.”

Born in Kota Baru, Kelantan, Nga moved to Sitiawan at the age of seven, following his father back to his hometown. A product of Chinese vernacular school, Nga went on to read law at Universiti Malaya.

While in university, he was the student movement leader as well as the captain of the debate team. This paved the way for his transition into politics, also spurred on by his cousin, Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham.

“When I joined DAP in 1996, it was the worst time to join. It had just suffered the worst defeat in its history in 1995. Perak DAP was in trouble. It was financially insolvent.

“In Perak, DAP won four parliamentary seats and 13 state seats in 1990. Then in 1995, we practically lost every seat except Sitiawan.

“That’s the time I joined the party. Together with the team led by Ngeh, we built Perak DAP from scratch to what it is today. Today we have 25 seats with zero debts and financially we are independent and this speaks volumes.”

Coming back to his reputation as a chauvinist, Nga, who has contested in various seats up and down Perak, said no matter what he says or does, those who do not like him will continue finding fault with him, so he would rather have his actions speak on his behalf.

“To my critics, actions speak louder than words. I’ve contested from north to south in Perak – from Tanjung to Kinta Valley, Larut Matang and now Hilir Perak. Nobody has ever done that in the history of the state and I believe in future, it will be hard to repeat.

“I contested in Taiping and Teluk Intan, which are mixed seats. In Teluk Intan, there are only 40% Chinese while Malays and Indians make up 60%. I won with an 11,000-vote majority. If I’m a chauvinist, I will not be able to garner such support. 

“In my 22 months as deputy speaker (during the Pakatan Harapan administration), my track record shows I’m a leader for all Malaysians. I’m fair, professional and a visionary,” the Teluk Intan MP said.

Given that Nga has not even turned 50 – he is 48 – and still has a long road ahead of him, his goal now is to work towards being remembered as a statesman, not just another politician. 

“To quote American theologian James Freeman Clark, ‘a politician thinks of the next election; a statesman of the next generation’ and so I want to be remembered as a statesman who puts national interest above self-interests.

“(I want to be remembered as) a man with integrity and as someone who has worked hard to promote multiracial politics.”

As to how long he will remain in politics, Nga said he will leave that to the will of the people.

“How long my political career lasts depends on the people. But I still have zeal and passion for national politics.” – October 10, 2021.