KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — It will be a one-to-one battle for the MCA top post at the party elections on Saturday, with vice-president and favourite Datuk Ong Tee Keat battling it out with former vice-president Datuk Chua Jui Meng.
At the close of nomination for national positions at the party headquarters this evening, only the two leaders had filed their nomination papers for the presidency.
The MCA nominations, devoid of any surprises, saw intense contest for all positions — president, deputy president, four posts of vice-president and 25 posts of central committee members.
Ong, who is also the transport minister, filed his papers soon after nomination opened at 1 pm while Chua, the former health minister, submitted his bid at about 3.30 pm, confirming the tussle to decide the 59-year-old party’s eighth president. Nominations closed at 5 pm.
For the deputy presidency, four candidates filed their nomination papers. They are MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek, Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai and Lee Hack Teik.
In this race, Ka Chuan, the elder brother of outgoing president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, seems to have the edge over Chua, the former health minister who resigned from the Cabinet late last year after a video of him in a “compromising” position with his girlfriend was made public.
The deputy presidency fell vacant after incumbent Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy declined to seek re-election.
The top two positions are considered important at this juncture, especially after the party suffered a humiliating defeat in the March 8 general election, which saw MCA winning only 46 state and parliamentary seats compared to the 106 it had secured at the 2004 polls.
For those contesting the top two posts, winning in the party elections is the easier task while the bigger responsibility would be in capturing the hearts and minds of the Chinese community which deserted the party at the general election.
Eight candidates are vying for the four posts of vice-president, with incumbent Datuk Seri Fong Chan Onn leading the charge.
The others are Wanita MCA chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen; Datuk Kong Cho Ha, the Lumut Division chief who topped the list of 25 elected CC members at the last party elections; Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, former MCA Youth chief and current health minister; Datuk Chor Chee Heung, deputy home minister and Alor Setar Member of Parliament; Datuk Yap Pian Hon, former MCA vice-president and former Serdang MP; Lim Teck Chong, Kuala Langat MCA Division vice-chairman; and Tan Kok Heng of Johor.
Meanwhile, Selangor Wanita MCA head Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun today won the Wanita MCA chief post uncontested at the close of the MCA national, youth and wanita election nominations at the party headquarters at Wisma MCA.
There were no other candidates for the Wanita chief post when nominations closed at 5pm.
The Wanita deputy chief post was also won uncontested by Datuk Yu Chok Tow, the former secretary-general of the wing.
The same went for the four Wanita MCA vice-chairman seats, which were won by Agnes Shim, Datuk Christina Lim Bee Kau, Datuk Lee Pit Chern and Tan Ah Eng.
The MCA wanita chief post became vacant after incumbent Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen decided not to seek re-election as she was contesting the party vice-presidency.
Also, Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong is the new MCA Youth Chief after he was unchallenged when nominations for the post closed today.
Speaking to reporters after nominations closed, he said he would carry out a number of structural reforms to ensure the wing continued to be relevant to the youths.
Among the major changes, he said, was to lower the maximum age limit for the wing from the current 45 years to 40 years old.
“I pledge to do this in five years' time. This is appropriate in order for the wing to live up to its youthful image,” said the the 40-year-old Wee, who was the former secretary-general.
The post was left vacant when Datuk Liow Tiong Lai had to relinquish his post upon exceeding the age limit of 45.
Liow is going for the vice-president's post.
The post of deputy Youth head is being contested by Perak Youth Chief Dr Mah Hang Soon and Kapar Division Chief Song Kee Chai in a straight fight.
Song, 45, who said he was confident to win the post, said he would work closely with Wee on rejuvenating the team.
“I will be the conductor and Wee the driver, together I believed we will drive the youth to greater success,” he said.
Six candidates meanwhile are vying the four vice-chief positions. They are Chin Tung Leong, Yong Chen Leong, Koe He Choon, Yoo Wei How, Yit Lee Kok and Khoo Ngee Chai.
Twenty-four candidates are vying for the wing’s 20 Central Committee (CC).
The second largest political party in the country will hold its elections on Saturday.
Met by reporters at the close of nomination, Tee Keat said he would campaign as much as possible to win votes.
“On my plans for MCA if I win, I have already mentioned it in my manifesto. I am open to the multiracial outlook too. But our approach should be to fight for all races, not only for the Chinese,” he added.
On the inclusion of non-Chinese in the MCA, he said it must first obtain the blessings of MCA members. — Bernama
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