A low-profile and taciturn leader, Datuk Kong Cho Ha believes a politician should treat other people with sincerity, be humble, speak the truth, and refrain from empty talks.

Probably because of this he was elected to the MCA central committee with the highest number of votes in the 2005 party elections.

This Saturday, he will set his sight a notch higher, as he contends for the party's vice presidential post.

He is widely anticipated to win with the highest number of votes this time.

"Please don't say that. I only hope to get through the battle!"

Kong said during an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily that he was grateful for the support given to him by central delegates in the last election, but this time, he will take things easy and hope that the delegates will give him the mandate again.

On the VP post

Q: How do you see the multi-cornered fight for MCA's vice presidency?

A: Under MCA's Constitution, every central delegate is qualified to take part in the party elections, and therefore all 2,400 plus delegates are eligbile.

Q: Some describe the VP post as one that is neither too important nor insignificant. What do you say?

A: MCA is a very large party with plenty of party and public chores to carry out. Every individual and every leader, be him a central committee member or a state, division or branch level leader, will have the opportunity to exert his talents once elected, provided that he's willing to do so, irrespective of his post.

Q: Do you prefer a senior-junior mix in the VP posts?

A: This is up to the delegates to decide how they want to form a powerful team.

Q: How powerful?

A: Be efficient, such that all the programmes and policies could be carried out as planned. This is the most powerful team, the best team in the hearts of the delegates.

Q: If you're elected, what do you wish to do for the party?

A: Work in coordination with the entire team, for the most important thing in politics is to consolidate the party first before talking about cooperation with BN.

MCA has lost many parliamentary seats and the focus should be on recouping the lost grounds. I'm confident BN and MCA will regain control in Perak.

On personal thoughts

Q: You were elected the central committee member with the highest number of votes in the last election, and therefore it is said that you will also win the VP post with the highest number of votes this time. Is this kind of talk putting you at a disadvantage?

A: I'm very glad to have won with the highest number of votes in the last election, and I want to thank the delegates for their mandate. When they congratulated me, I told them those were the votes they gave to me.

But this time I will take things easy. MCA party elections are liberal, democratic and equitable, and every candidate has equal chances of participating in them. I only hope I can get through again this time, and that central delegates have confidence in me and give me another chance.

Q: Does saying that you won with the highest number of votes make you look like an ambitious person or a threat?

A: I'm a very prudent political leader, and it's going to take a lot of time if I were to tell the whole story. Perhaps you can find out from the president, Ka Chuan, or even Ling Liong Sik. They know what kind of person I am.

Q: Do the delegates understand what kind of person you are?

A: I hope so.

Q: Are you not so accustomed to the approach of direct criticisms?

A: No such need most of the time. Often a leader does not tell the reasons when they say something, and it's therefore unfair that we criticise them squarely.

Q: Is it your motto to speak less and do more?

A: From when I first became a city councillor, a BN backbencher until now, I believe that anyone who has been willing to come to me for help do so because they can't get their problems solved elsewhere. Therefore, their questions are very important to me, and I should talk less.

Q: You don't seem very aggressive, but in the highly complicated political circle, perhaps it's not easy either to be unambitious.

A: I don't see anything complicated here. I think it's a kind of attitude. Some ask me whether it's tough running up and down the country for the election. To be frank, I'm very happy with my busy schedule, but not exhausted. It offers me an opportunity to meet the grassroots, and they have all been very friendly to me. They've talked about what they feel, their problems, and have offered plenty of constructive suggestions... I really don't see anything complex.

Probably because of the background with which I was raised and educated, I learned along with the Malays and Indians, and therefore I saw my involvement in politics since the very beginning as a way of performing my duties for the nation as a citizen.

I feel that this country has been too important for us. From secondary school to university, I've been thinking that this is a very wonderful country which we must do everything to protect.

In fact, many of my schoolmates have joined politics, including PKR's secretary-general Salehuddin Hashim and second finance minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamad Yackob, who used to share the same hostel with me.

Q: What are your survival tips in politics?

A: Sincerity, humility, tireless effort and cooperation. (Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)