Howard Ong, Ong Ye Kung's older brother, running in Australia's federal election

Howard Ong, the older brother of Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung, will contest for a seat in the Australian parliament in the upcoming federal election on May 3.

The older Ong confirmed his relationship with the health minister with The Straits Times, saying: "Our family has always had a strong commitment to serving the community, and I have carried that commitment with me."

Ong's father, Ong Lian Teng, was a Barisan Sosialis politician who served as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Bukit Panjang SMC from 1963 to 1965 and later Member of Parliament from 1965 to 1966.

Liberal for Tangney

Ong is the Liberal candidate for Tangney, an electoral division in the state of Western Australia.

According to the Liberal Party website, Ong grew up in Singapore and served his national service as an army lieutenant.

He moved to Western Australia more than 28 years ago to pursue his higher education at Curtin University.

He met his wife in Australia and decided to settle there.

Over the past two decades, the couple started an IT business, while also actively serving in the community.

If elected, Ong said he will be focusing on making home ownership more accessible for young Australians, as well as addressing the cost of living, among other things.

Going against former dolphin trainer, one-time Buddhist monk, police officer

He will be going up against the current Labor Member of the Parliament (MP) for Tangney, Sam Lim.

Lim, who was born in Malaysia, previously made headlines for being a former dolphin trainer, a one-time Buddhist monk, and an award-winning police officer before turning to politics.

An expert interviewed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said Tangney is high on the Liberals' "take back" list, as it is the most marginal seat in Western Australia and the seventh-most marginal seat that Labor currently holds.

According to a poll cited by Reuters, the current ruling Labor Party could win the election with a "slim margin" of 52-48.

Top image via Howard Ong - Liberal for Tangney/Facebook