KUALA LUMPUR, 13 MARCH 2010: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat today announced that he will defend the s president's post at MCA's upcoming polls.
   

Making the announcement at a packed news conference at Wisma MCA here,
Ong said he was determined to continue with his agenda of tranformation for the
party, besides striving to champion the interests of the people, especially the
Chinese community.
   

Ong also said that he was willing to work with anyone who had the
people's and party's interests in mind.
   

"Armed with renewed energy and zeal, I am confident that we can win back the
hearts and minds of Malaysian.
   

"There is a lot of unfinished work, my team and I will continue to soldier
on," he said at the press conference that lasted  30minutes.
   

It was also attended by his allies, including central committee (CC) members
loyal to him and about 80 staunch supporters donning orange polo t-shirts with
Ong's name inscribed on them and carrying banners to show support for the
embattled president.

The fresh poll was triggered by the resignations of 22 CC members including
former deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek last week, two days before
the party's 56th annual general meeting (AGM).
   

To date, Ong has been the first to announce his candidancy for the fresh
polls, where nomination has been set for March 22.
   

Talk if rife that he is likely to face a challenge not only from Chua but
also former president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, who is likely to make a comeback.
   

Ong when asked about his chances of retaining the post, smiled and
said: “I don't even know who my contenders are, how am I going to rate my
chances. It is still too early, too premature (to make an estimation).”
   

When asked about the many calls to Ka Ting to return and lead the
beleaguered party out of its leadership crisis, Ong said in the past one week he
also had received tremendous support from people of all walks of life to
continue with his work.
 

Looking cheerful throughout the news conference, Ong, however, declined to
name who were his allies, saying this election was also a matter of life and
death for the party.
   

"Time is not on our side, but if we have the will of steel, and are
willing to set aside our differences for the good of the party and community,
I'm confident that we will be able to finish the job which we had initially set
out to do," he said.
   

Cautioning that the entire nation was scrutinising the party at the moment,
Ong said the decisions and actions of the party's central delegates on March 28
would "forever determine the destiny of the party".
   

He said he also hoped that candidates who contested in the poll would have
the maturity to accept the outcome.
 

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