KUALA LUMPUR — Analysts view former DAP leader Ong Kian Ming as a strategist for Khairy Jamaluddin’s future election bids, but not as a “voter magnet” especially for more conservative-minded Malays.
Datuk Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi told Scoop that Ong’s greatest value to Khairy would be his expertise in policy, data and election strategy.
Ong’s experience in analysing election results down to polling districts and voting channels could help Khairy identify target areas and voter groups to woo, said the socio-political analyst with Universiti Malaya’s Academy of Malay Studies.
The former deputy minister’s strength as a technocrat and policy analyst could also help Khairy identify issues tp develop a structured policy agenda that should form the backbone of his campaign, Awang Azman added.
“Ong can provide what can be described as policy architecture for Khairy’s comeback. But he can’t be a voter magnet.
“Khairy already has charisma, ministerial experience, communication skills and very high name recognition. What is needed is to ensure his comeback does not merely become the ‘comeback of a political celebrity’, but has convincing policy content,” he said.
However, Awang Azman cautioned that Ong’s 14-year association with DAP could still influence how certain voters perceive him, and this could be disadvantageous to Khairy, also known as KJ, in Malay strongholds.
“After 14 years in the party, two terms as an MP and having served in DAP’s central executive committee (CEC), that identity does not disappear with one resignation letter.
“Ong may not be able to bring Khairy further into the Malay community. In conservative Malay areas, Ong’s presence may allow opponents to create a narrative that KJ is too close to the former DAP network.
“Ong would be more useful in Khairy’s strategy room than as a face for KJ’s campaign in hardline Malay areas,” Awang Azman said.
Urban voters
With urban voters, however, Ong could help Khairy by “building an image as a Malay leader who is not trapped in his own community politics,” Awang Azman added.
Ong may be able to bridge Khairy with urban voters, professionals, policy-oriented voters and parts of civil society, he said.
Khairy was Rembau MP for three terms, and was minister of Youth and Sports, Science, Technology and Innovation, and Health.
International Islamic University Malaysia political analyst Professor Syaza Shukri agreed, saying that Ong’s backing could make Khairy appear less like a “typical” Umno leader and possibly attract support beyond Umno’s traditional base.
Syaza said Khairy already had some appeal with educated and middle-class voters, and Ong’s value to the Umno politician would be to further solidify his image with this group using targeted campaigns and localised, specific and realistic policy offerings.
“Khairy is someone who is a crowd-puller, especially among middle-class Malays. What Ong can add is his strength and skills as a technocrat and political scientist who is grounded in data,” she said.
However, Ong’s backing of Khairy may not necessarily pull votes from DAP or Pakatan Harapan (PH) supporters.
“I would be careful because Ong is not bringing DAP or PH supporters to support Khairy or Umno. It is not a clear transfer (of votes),” she said.
Party machinery and Umno narrative
Syaza also noted that Khairy, though well-known particularly because of his Keluar Sekejap podcast, had less strength at the Umno grassroots level.
This remained crucial because electoral success ultimately depended on getting voters to turn out, she said.
“Ong’s support may increase Khairy’s margin, but the machinery is still very important.”
Awang Azman also concurred on this point, noting that although Khairy had formally rejoined Umno earlier this year, this was different from the reality of grassroots acceptance.
Despite machinery weaknesses, Ong’s support for Khairy could still be seen as positive for Umno, overall, said geostrategist Professor Dr Azmi Hassan.
Even though Ong himself was not supporting the party, it can be enough material for Umno to create a positive narrative, said the analyst from the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research.
“Umno can say that even someone from DAP does not have confidence in DAP but has confidence in an Umno candidate. That is enough to create a narrative that Ong’s decision, to specifically help Khairy in GE16, is positive for Umno,” Azmi said.
Ong, who announced his departure from DAP today in an open letter to party secretary-general Anthony Loke on Facebook, was formerly Serdang MP and Bangi MP, and a former deputy minister at the International Trade and Industry Ministry.
In his announcement, he said he would not joint another political party in the near future and would not contest in GE16.
Instead, he reiterated his announcement in January this year, that he would help Khairy campaign if the latter contested a seat, and would help a Khairy cabinet if he ever became prime minister. Ong has said previously that he considered Khairy a friend and a brother in the “brutal world of politics”, and has been a frequent guest on the latter’s Keluar Sekejap podcast.
Khairy, who was sacked from Umno in 2023 over differences with the leadership, rejoined the party in April this year. – Sept 1, 2026