Ong Ka Chuan

Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan is a Malaysian politician and the current Minister of Housing and Local Government in the Malaysian cabinet. He is also Secretary-General of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and Perak MCA Chairman.

Ong is the older brother of MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting. He was appointed as Housing and Local Government Minister after Ka Ting declined a Cabinet post.

Born in Kota Tampan New Village in Lenggong, Perak, Ong has a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Universiti Malaya. He worked as a teacher in Keng Chee Chinese Primary School, Pulau Ketam (1977 to 1979) and in Confucius School, Kuala Lumpur from 1982 to 1985.

Ong joined the MCA in 1978 and actively participated in politics. He was the Chenderiang state assemblyman for four terms from 1986 to 2004. In the 2004 Malaysian General Elections, Kah Chuan was humbled by young Fong Poh Kuan of DAP after losing by approximately 8000 votes in Batu Gajah. In the March 2008 general election, Ka Chuan was elected as Tanjung Malim Member of Parliament, winning the seat by a 5,422 majority.

Ong has stated that he wished he could bring more development to Perak, adding it had been nearly 10 years since the state MCA had a minister.

He is married to Datin Chan Beng Choo and is blessed with two children.

References

• New ministers and deputy ministers, The Star, March 19, 2008.