Sunday April 6, 2008

Poised for the top post

BY FOONG PEK YEE

With the MCA elections around the corner, speculation is rife that newly-appointed Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat will move up the ladder and could eventually take over the helm of the party.

Ong: ‘It is time to stress that MCA is a Chinese-based party but our endeavour involves the interest of the multi-racial society at large’.

DATUK Ong Tee Keat has his appointment book full these days. The newly-appointed Transport Minister is much sought after by the media, but the reporters definitely want to know more than just his plans for his ministry.

It has been reported by the local media that the MCA vice-president may be going for the post of deputy president; a move that would eventually pave the way for him to the party's number one slot.

Ong, 53, is known for being assertive and outspoken. He has a comment for every issue.

With party elections set to begin next month, he has given broad hints on his next political move, leading to more question marks.

Recent media reports say that you will go for the post of deputy president if its incumbent Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy is not defending his seat. Do you foresee any other contender for the number two slot at the moment?

A television reporter has repeatedly asked me this hypothetical question – assuming there is a vacancy for the post.

My answer is that if at all there is a vacancy, any eligible candidate, including me, has the right to contest.

I must also say here that I will only consider contesting the post of deputy president on three conditions, meaning that I have enough support from the ground, the aptitude to deliver in the post, and the ability to bring positive impact to the party.

I contest not because I want the position at all cost.

Is your stand on the right to contest applied to all other party posts, from top to bottom?

Yes. Vacancies will arise once the three-year-tenure (MCA holds triennial elections) ends for those elected to the positions.

If at all any of the incumbents involved wants to seek re-election, then anyone going for the same post will be viewed as a challenger, and there is this inclination to see the act of challenging the incumbent as something negative.

But I must say that contest is healthy and candidates be viewed positively if we (candidates) are able to talk and project what we can do for the party, our shared vision with the delegates and the people.

There must not be any mudslinging.

Healthy competition at any level should not be hampered.

What is your message to the central delegates who will decide the party line-up that will in turn lead the party into, perhaps, the next general election?

It is clear that the pressing need for the party is to have a leadership that provides the new direction that could reinforce our confidence in facing new and ever rising expectations and challenges, including the changing political landscape in the country.

MCA must be prepared to initiate changes within the party, from mindset, psyche to outlook and not just slogan and talk only.

It is time to stress that MCA is a Chinese-based party but our endeavour involves the interest of the multi-racial society at large.

What is the feedback from members and grassroots leaders on the party's performance in the recent general election?

Members at large need a clear and new direction.

To them, it (MCA lost 84 of the 130 seats it contested. Barisan Nasional lost control in Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor) was unprecedented.

They need to be guided and be heard in the wake of the changing political scenario.

People say MCA has not been speaking up on issues affecting the community. Do you agree with this?

We need to take cognisance of the people's perception, rightly or wrongly. But as a party we must remain articulated on the people's woes.

Do you agree that lack of savvy in modern media in the MCA approach to the general election campaign contributed to its lacklustre performance?

I will not say we are not media savvy. It is a matter of content and creativeness that we have in reaching out to the people.

The Transport Ministry has always been under the spotlight because its policies have a direct, and at times immediate, impact on the people. What are your top three priorities as the new minister?

I look at the entire transport scenario from three aspects – macro, micro and problems at hand.

At the macro level, it is about how we can improve on the country's overall competitiveness in the transport sector – aviation, maritime and land – at the global level. There is the need to benchmark our performance at the global and regional levels both quantitatively and qualitatively.

The micro level will focus on the problems we face at the domestic front; from improving existing facilities to resolving the people's transportation woes and living up to their expectations.

As to the problems at hand, there is the need for the ministry to connect with the people – anything from keeping them informed and receiving their complaints or enquiries to providing the answers if not solutions, and, if possible, all done on a round-the-clock basis.

Public service should not be confined to normal office hours. The interactive mode between the authorities and the people should also be user friendly.

We are looking at setting up call centres to interact with the public.

This is more user friendly compared to the Internet.

We can learn from foreign models whereby there are television and radio channels dedicated to transport matters.

End of the day, we (ministry) must put ourselves in the shoes of the public when dealing with the public.

There have been criticisms, if not questions, on the efficacy of road safety campaigns by the ministry. It appears that there has not been much improvement despite all the on-going campaigns in the media. What is your opinion?

There is the need to constantly engage the people on transport matters, be it to improve efficiency in the transport system or getting the people’s participation and cooperation on road safety measures.

I think some of the gory and fatal accident scenes in the media campaigns may even be counter-productive as certain viewers may just shun them.

We have also to accept that changes cannot happen overnight.

Transport woes from road congestion and potholes to poor public transport seem to be never ending. Will you go round the country to talk to the agencies concerned or even get a feel of what it is like to take public transport?

I take cognisance of all these things. I have directed my officers to be prepared to collaborate with and reach out to the ministries or agencies involved to get things moving.

Not all transport matters come under my ministry. Licensing of taxis is not under my ministry.

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