Liow Tiong Lai
In the 2013 general elections, Ong successfully defended his parliamentary seat despite MCA suffered its worst electoral result in its history. As a result of MCA poor performance and its previously passed resolution not to take up cabinet posts in the government if it failed in the 13th general election, MCA will not take up any government position. Later in 2013, MCA elected Liow Tiong Lai as the new president and reversed its resolution. Liow appointed Ong as new MCA secretary-general for the second time then. In 2015, Najib Razak in a cabinet reshuffle eventually appointed Ong as the Second Minister for International Trade and Industry.