He made the announcement at the MCA headquarters this evening as a group of his supporters chanted his name.
They also unfurled a banner which read, 'MCA needs pride, MCA needs tomorrow, we want Ong Tee Keat'.Ong said he is contesting the post again to pursue his party reform agenda.
Today's announcement came as no surprise as Ong had strongly hinted that he would not be retiring from politics in his speech during the party's controversial annual general meeting last Sunday.
The AGM was boycotted by two key factions in the party, led by deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek and vice-president Liow Tiong Lai respectively.
Both Chua and Liow, who are both meeting their supporters across the country, have yet to announce which posts they are eyeing in the upcoming party polls.
MCA chief for less than two years
Ong was first elected as president during the party election in October 2008 after defeating Chua Jui Meng. Jui Meng has since resigned from the party and joined PKR last year.
However, MCA became embroiled in a crisis after the election, resulting in an extraordinary general meeting last October after the party's presidential council headed by Tee Keat himself decided to adopt the recommendation of MCA's disciplinary board to sack his deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek following the latter's involvement in a sex DVD scandal.
But the over 2,400 delegates stunned everyone by making dramatic decisions when they approved a vote of no confidence against Ong while at the same time rejected Chua's attempt to be reinstated as deputy president.
Later, both Ong and Chua patched up under MCA's 'Greater Unity Plan' but the crisis continued to simmer as it was rejected by some other leaders.
Last week, Chua, together with 22 central committee members, including four vice-presidents, resigned from their posts to force fresh party polls.
Nominations for the polls will be held on March 22.
courtesy of Malaysiakini
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