Marathon man Ong Kian Ming on taking the road less travelled
Walking briskly into the cosy coffeeshop, the tall brown-eyed politician draws stares from some of the elder clientele, already showing why the Chinese news media call him the opposition’s “auntie killer”. No wonder then that Dr Ong Kian Ming (pic) won at his very first shot at a general election — in Serdang.
He is only five minutes late to meet The Malaysian Insider, but plonking his black knapsack on a two-seater bench, he immediately apologises for his “tardiness”.
Here is the DAP’s election strategist, a highly paid consultant-turned-political researcher before the PhD holder took the plunge into full-time politics. He made the news recently for managing a full fast during the past Ramadan, in solidarity with Muslims.
“I just wanted to try to go through what my Muslims friends go through and it was difficult but after 30 days, Hari Raya celebrations really brought a different meaning. I felt I truly deserved to celebrate Hari Raya with my Muslim friends,” he said, smiling.
It is just one more example of the way Ong takes the road less travelled. Look at his life choices. Originally, he seemed destined for the money pit, an Asean scholar who made it into Singapore’s prestigious Raffles Institution, going on to do his masters in Cambridge University and his doctorate in political science at Duke University in North Carolina, US, before joining a global brand name, Boston Consulting Group.
He says it himself. As a young boy, his ambition was “to make lots of money”. But two years after returning to his homeland of Malaysia, his heart tugged him away from the purse.
“I wanted to explore other options and try my hand as a political researcher. Of course, I took a huge pay cut, but I have always wanted to try my hand at politics,” he says.
Politics, okay. But what made him join the DAP?
Well, it had something to do with basketball. And two famous men: Michael Jordan and Lim Guan Eng, a leader of the DAP.
“I was in Washington DC in October 2001 for a political conference when I first met Lim Guan Eng. I found out he was a fan of Michael Jordan, so we decided to watch a game together. That was the
beginning, or you could say, turning point which linked me to DAP.
“I had met Lim Kit Siang before when I was in a think-tank for MCA and Gerakan, but that time I got to know Guan Eng on a more personal note,” says the soft-spoken Ong.
But the idea of serving society goes way back to influences from his father, mother and one teacher in particular.
He says of his father, Ong Meng Sing, an architect: “My father used to be active in the Chinese Chambers of Commerce Association and in community work.”
His mother, Poon Siak Khing, a housewife, also valued society. And added the mother’s touch to her general emphasis on compassion.
“I remember when I was down with chickenpox during my secondary school days in Singapore, my mother actually went down to look after me for two weeks. I will always remember such simple gestures by my mother,” says Ong.
But the person who most made him think of quitting everything and joining politics?
“I think the most influential person who made an impact in my life to join politics was my English teacher, Mrs Rosie Smith. She taught me to be critical and think outside the box. Until today, I would never forget what she taught me,” he says.
School was also where the self-confessed nerd sprung a love for sports. Today, he has run more than 10 half-marathons of 21km and will do his first full marathon at the end of the year in Penang. There is no doubt that at 180cm tall and 75kg, he is nobody’s idea of a nerd now.
Yet, Ong is still not quite “the cool guy”, he himself says. On his left wrist, he wears a blue Casio watch which was redeemed through points by his brother 10 years ago. There is that humble knapsack instead of some leather briefcase. “I don’t like fast or expensive cars. In fact, I just sold my first car, a 14-year-old grey Proton Wira and traded it for a Toyota Vios,” he adds.
And that crew cut, what’s that about?
“I used to have hair,” he says as he takes out his identity card to show a completely different looking person. He adds, “I shaved my hair not too long ago for a simple reason. It was easier to manage when I ran and it saved me money on shampoo.”
His wife is cool with it, like she is with his full-time political career. Yeoh Ee Leng quit her job as an architect to support him.
He says, “I knew my wife during my days in Singapore, but our relationship blossomed in early 2000. Four years later, we got married and she followed me to the US to pursue my masters. She has since quit her job and is supporting me whole-heartedly in my political career.”
Yeoh, aged 38 like Ong, even fasted with him during Ramadan. “She did not do a full fast. Nevertheless, she woke up at 5am and prepared ‘sahur’ and ate with me. She didn’t eat during the day but drank water,” Ong recounts.
Any plans for children?
“Not at this moment, not with my work commitment,” he said. “If I ever get the time to relax, I try to indulge in my favourite past-time, watching B-grade horror monster movies,” he laughs. “My wife hates it so I go alone to watch these movies. This is just one of the things she allows me to do.” – August 18, 2013.
