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SHAH ALAM — Former Bangi MP Dr Ong Kian Ming has walked away from DAP, bringing an end to his 14-year journey with the party - but his political exit comes with a significant twist.
Ong announced that he had resigned as a DAP member effective Monday (Aug 31), saying he no longer intends to play an active political role and has no plans to contest in the 16th General Election (GE16).
But he has also made it clear that stepping away from party politics does not mean stepping away from public life.
The former International Trade and Industry deputy minister said he would continue contributing to the country and working with people who share his interests and ideas.
Ong's departure marks the end of a political chapter that began when he joined DAP in 2012.
He subsequently served as the MP for Serdang from 2013 to 2018 before moving to Bangi, where he served from 2018 to 2022.
He also served as deputy minister at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) from 2018 to 2020.
His resignation is particularly notable because he has explicitly ruled out joining another political party in the near future. In other words, for now, Ong is not jumping from one political camp to another.
He has also said he does not intend to return to the electoral battlefield as a candidate in GE16.
But there is a 'Khairy twist'. While Ong says he does not plan to contest GE16 himself, he has previously made a commitment to help former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin if the latter is given a seat to contest.
Ong reiterated that commitment following his resignation.
He said he would assist Khairy's GE16 campaign, as he had promised on Jan 10, should the former minister be given a constituency to contest.
In announcing his resignation, Ong addressed DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook and national organising secretary Khoo Poay Tiong,
He said his resignation would take effect on Aug 31, 2026, and expressed gratitude for having been given the opportunity to contribute to both the party and the country.
"I am grateful for being given the opportunity to contribute to the party and country in various ways," he said in a Facebook post.
Ong also thanked Tony Pua for inviting him to join DAP and for guiding him on how best to serve the party and country over the past 14 years.
He expressed gratitude to Lim Guan Eng for giving him the opportunity to contest the Serdang and Bangi parliamentary seats, as well as appointing him as a deputy minister during Lim's tenure as DAP secretary-general.
However, Ong's political career is not over despite stating that he is stepping away from being a politician. He said he would continue serving the country's interests through other avenues.
One of those platforms is his podcast, 'Are We OK'. He said he would continue contributing to national issues alongside individuals who share his thinking and interests.
His DAP record:
- Ong joined DAP in 2012.
- His political career included:
- 2013–2018: MP for Serdang
- 2018–2022: MP for Bangi
- 2018–2020: Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry
- 2019–2022: DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) member
- 2018–2024: DAP Selangor state committee member
For now, Ong has ruled out joining another party and said he does not intend to contest GE16.
But he has also signalled that he will remain active on national issues, and has specifically committed to helping Khairy if the former minister secures a seat.
