Ong’s exit a major loss for DAP, says Ramasamy
Ong’s exit a major loss for DAP, says Ramasamy
The Urimai chairman says the former MP's departure comes as the party struggles to chart an independent political direction.
Ramasamy said Ong was an important figure in the Pakatan Harapan component, particularly in election preparations and analysing voting trends.
He pointed out that the former two-term MP was an academic in the field of political science, making him a key asset in DAP’s election strategies.
However, he said, the independent-minded Ong increasingly saw the party’s future differently from its top leadership, claiming this was why he was not fielded in the 2022 general election.
“Given the sycophantic culture in DAP, it was obvious that he did not fit into the bill of being a party ‘loyalist’.
“But he was one of the first persons to note the decline of Indian support for DAP as a result of the latter’s marginalisation and purge of Indian leaders.
“Ong’s departure is a big loss for DAP. It comes at a time when the party has succumbed to the dictates of Malay hegemony, seemingly clueless about charting an independent political direction based on dignity and pride,” he said in a Facebook post.
Ramasamy, a former Penang DAP deputy chairman, added that Ong remains well-respected outside DAP’s circles.
Ong announced his resignation from DAP today after about 14 years with the party.
He said he does not plan to join another party or contest in the next general election, although he will help former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin campaign in GE16.
Ong served as Serdang MP from 2013 to 2018 and then Bangi MP from 2018 to 2022. He was also deputy international trade and industry minister from 2018 to 2020.
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