Former Bangi MP Dr Ong Kian Ming resigned from the DAP on Monday, August 31, 2026, ending 14 years of party membership. He stated he will not join another political party or contest in the upcoming 16th General Election, but remains committed to helping former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin campaign.
Resignation Takes Effect on Merdeka Day
Dr Ong Kian Ming announced his immediate departure from the Democratic Action Party in a statement issued on Monday, August 31, 2026. Addressing his resignation letter to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke and national organising secretary Khoo Poay Tiong, the former lawmaker concluded his tenure on a national holiday, offering a Selamat Hari Merdeka
and Happy Merdeka Day!
greeting in his public remarks. In a Facebook post addressed to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, Ong announced that his resignation takes effect today. Bekas Ahli Parlimen Bangi, Dr Ong Kian Ming mengumumkan peletakan jawatan sebagai ahli Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP) berkuat kuasa hari ini. Beliau yang menyertai DAP pada 2012 berkata, keputusan itu dibuat selepas 14 tahun bersama parti berkenaan.
A Decade of Parliamentary and Ministerial Service
Reflecting on his time in public office, Ong detailed a series of electoral and administrative milestones spanning more than a decade. He served as the Member of Parliament for Serdang from 2013 to 2018 and subsequently represented Bangi from 2018 to 2022. During his political career, he also served as the deputy investment, trade and industry minister from 2018 to 2020. Within the party structure, Ong served as an appointed member of the Central Executive Committee from 2019 to 2022 and as an elected member of the DAP Selangor state committee from 2018 to 2024.
I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the party and country in various ways since joining in 2012, as the MP for Serdang (2013 to 2018) and Bangi (2018 to 2022), deputy international trade and industry minister (2018 to 2020), an appointed Central Executive Committee member (2019 to 2022), and an elected DAP Selangor committee member (2018 to 2024).
Dr Ong Kian Ming, former Bangi MP
Acknowledgments to Party Mentors
In his resignation statements across local media outlets, Ong singled out key figures who shaped his political trajectory. He thanked former Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua for inviting him to join the party and for providing him with guidance on how to best serve the party and the country over the past 14 years as a DAP member. He also expressed appreciation to former party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng for providing him with the opportunity to be nominated as a candidate for the parliamentary seats of Serdang and Bangi and as a Deputy Minister during his time as Secretary General of the DAP. Ong noted that it was an honour to work with DAP members and leaders in Serdang and Bangi during his term as an MP from 2013 to 2022, serving the constituents and residents as their elected representative.
Future Plans and the Khairy Jamaluddin Campaign
Despite cutting ties with the DAP, Ong explicitly ruled out an immediate shift to another political organisation, stating he has no plans to join any other political party in the near future. He confirmed that he is not planning to join another political party in the near future and will not be seeking to contest as a candidate in the next general election or the coming general election (GE16). However, his departure does not mean a complete exit from public life. Ong reiterated a commitment made earlier in the year.
I remain committed to fulfilling the promise I made on Jan 10, 2026, to help Khairy Jamaluddin campaign in GE16, if he is given a seat to run in.
Dr Ong Kian Ming
Advisory Roles and Podcast Endeavors
Moving forward, Ong stated that he will continue serving the nation through alternative channels. He added that he would continue to serve the interest of the country through other means, including on his podcast, “Are We OK”, through his various advisory positions and by working with like-minded people with common interests.
