AMONG the reasons that have prompted DAP lawmaker Dr Ong Kian Ming to take a “break” from politics was “frustration” at Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) inability to use its government experience to formulate better policies during the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Speaking to The Malaysian Insight on Friday, days after announcing his decision not to contest in the next general election, the Bangi MP said although PH fell after just 22 months in government, the experience it gained could have been put to better use. 

“Not all, but many of my colleagues in PH, after the fall of the government, were unable to use their experience in government to contribute positively to the policy-making process, especially during the pandemic. 

“This is important because we can use this experience (in government) to help the people. 

“For example, I offered my services as a former consultant to any SMEs about their problems during the pandemic,” said Ong in the interview.

He said that although he could only offer the SMEs “basic” help, it nevertheless helped them during lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.

“These range from very basic things, such as how to apply for the subsidy programmes. I also helped expedite some of the applications for wage subsidies. 

“If this kind of proactive thinking could have been replicated among more MPs, especially in PH, you can show the voters that you can play an active role as an opposition MP that has government experience. 

“You can also propose alternative policies to show the voters that you are a government in waiting and not go back to becoming the opposition by default without any alternative policy suggestions,” said the 46-year-old.

Ong said he was frustrated that the opposition did not show greater leadership.

“This was one area where I was somewhat frustrated by the lack of leadership, not just in DAP but in PH as a whole, and I’m the kind of person who tries to put 100% into whatever I do. 

“I may not be able to do everything that I want to do, but I will try. And that process is quite tiring. To try to do this for another five years, if I’m elected again, I think would take too much of my energy. 

“Some colleagues have advised me to just do my own thing and not try to do too much. That is a kind of coping mechanism but that’s not the kind of person that I am. 

“If I wanted to take that path, I might as well not enter politics,” said Ong, who had failed to make the cut in the party’s recent central executive committee elections.

Ong said he hoped young people would not be discouraged by the politics they see. 

“I hope my temporary stepping down from politics will not discourage young people from taking part in the political process – whether joining political parties, NGOs, think tanks and whatever they can to help in nation building. 

“And what I will show is that a politician can make a positive difference in the lives of individuals. And this is the spirit that I hope Malaysians can embrace to be part of the positive change for the country.”

As for himself, Ong said he has not ruled out returning to the field. 

“But if I do return, I hope to be more involved in policy design and implementation and not just be an elected representative.”

Lessons learnt

Frustrations aside, Ong said he had gained invaluable insight during his stint as deputy minister of international trade and industry (Miti).

One lesson for instance, is how to deal with the perception that the civil service was against PH.

“I learnt that if you give a certain vision and direction to civil servants, they will respect you and follow you.”

One way to gain civil service’s respect, said Ong, is “to “walk the talk”.

Ong said he showed how serious he was when he followed the ministry to promote Pakatan’s Industrial Revolution 4.0 initiative. 

“When the ministry officers saw that I was serious by getting involved, they also got on board.”

One incident, said Ong, that helped gain him the respect of MITI officers occurred in Sarawak.

“At that time, I organised a trip from Sibu to Miri by road. The agency and MITI officers in Sarawak were surprised by this as it was a tough drive. 

“ I also wanted to see the Pan Borneo Highway and this earned their respect,” said Ong.

Another lesson Ong said he learnt while in government was how to come up with win-win policies for the private sector. 

“One example is how we simplified the application for government incentive schemes, by having both the Miti and Ministry of Finance ministers chair meetings for investments above RM1 billion.”

He said this enabled MITI and MOF to work faster as both ministers were already involved from the start.

“Prior to this, Miti would propose and then the proposal will have to go through various departments in MOF before it reaches the Finance Minister. But with this, we could get it straight to the finance minister faster.

“Sadly, this was reversed after the Pakatan government fell in 2020,” said the Bangi MP.

Ong announced on May 9, the anniversary of the historic 2018 general election that ushered PH into federal power, that he will not be defending the Bangi seat in the next general election.

Ong first won the seat, then known as Serdang, in 2013 by defeating MCA veteran and former MP Yap Pian Hon by polling 79,238 votes (67.98%). 

In 2018, Ong defended the enlarged constituency renamed Bangi after the 2018 delineation exercise,  by defeating MCA’s Liew Yuen Keong, as well as PAS and PRM candidates after polling 102,557 votes (65.6%). 

DAP first won the Serdang seat in the 2008 tsunami general election after Teo Nie Ching defeated MCA’s Hoh Hee Lee after winning 64.23% (47,444) of the votes. – May 15, 2022.