IPOH: Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan will not be seeking re-election in the MCA elections in November.

The party secretary-general also said he would not be contesting any divisional post as he wanted to make way for the younger generation to steer the party forward.

“MCA needs more young people, especially those born in the ‘80s and ‘90s, as well as the millennials to keep the party going.

“We should give the younger generation of leaders the platform to perform.

“Let them foster a wider outlook on how the country and Chinese community should be in the future,” he said here yesterday.

Earlier, Ong witnessed the swearing-in of the 13th committee for Persatuan Persahatan Kesihatan Tai Chi 18 Perak.

Ong said he was not quitting politics and would remain with MCA to advise and guide young leaders when needed.

“We cannot just leave everything behind,” he said, adding that party members had the responsibility to give their strength and cooperate with one another.

“It’s not right to just leave when we are no longer holding any top post.

“We should still voice out (our opinions) when necessary without nagging,” he said.

Ong also said it was not right to criticise the Pakatan Hara­pan government unreasonably.

“The world is fair. We had our time to perform and now it is their time.

“Let them do it and do not criticise them for no reason because that is not good.

“We are still responsible for the society we are living in and when the time is right, we might play a different role in the future.

“Just let things take their own course,” he added.

Ong also said the election for the new central leadership would be held on Nov 2.

“Everything is going smoothly so far. We are done with the branch level and moving on to the divisional level now.

“The party elections this time around are also different from before, as the central leadership will be elected by over 30,000 divisional delegates instead of some 2,400 central delegates before this,” he added.

-The Star-