Political Career
Ong was a member of the Perak State Assembly from 1986 to 2004, before contesting the federal seat of Batu Gajah in the 2004 general election. He lost to Fong Poh Kuan of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), despite the Barisan Nasional coalition making widespread gains nationwide. Despite this, he was appointed MCA secretary-general the following year and served concurrently with his brother Ong Ka Ting as president.
In the 2008 general elections, Ong contested and won the Tanjung Malim parliamentary seat. He was appointed Minister of Housing and Local Government. Later that year, Ong contested the MCA deputy presidency but lost to Chua Soi Lek, and was immediately removed as secretary-general by new president Ong Tee Keat. In 2009, he was dropped from the Cabinet by incoming Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Read more about this topic: Ong Ka Chuan
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