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14th October, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR: 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 yesterday 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 (CC) 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 3:30pm, confirming the tussle to decide the 59-year-old party’s eighth president. Nominations closed at 5pm.
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, Donald Lim, incumbent vice-president, and Lee, a former state assemblyman.
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.
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.
Jui Meng, on the other hand, accepted that he was the underdog in the contest and hoped that delegates would cast their votes based on his service.
“This is the political and democratic process we should abide by. I hope it would be a clean contest and I am sure the delegates want it that way,” he said.
For the 25 CC seats, a massive battle is on the cards, with 63 candidates in the fray.
They are Loke Yuen Yow, Gan Tian Loo, Tang See Hong, Lam Chiek Tuan, Tan Teik Cheng, Loh Yoon Foo, Datuk Tee Siew Kiong, Lai Yit Fee, Yu Chok Tow, Goh Siow Huat, Chuah Boon Seng, Ho Cheng Wang, Tan Chin Meng, Tang Heap Seng, Yip Chee Keong, Kong Sing Chu, Gan Ping Siew, Hoh Khai Mun, Wong Siong Hwee, Dr Por Choo Chor, Hou Kok Chung, Koe He Choon, Wee Jeck Seng, Heng Seai Kie, Lee Wei Kiat, Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai, Wong Koon Mun, Tan Cheng Liang, Datuk Chau Tet On, Yit Lee Kok, Wong Foon Meng, Wong Mook Leong, Teng Boon Soon, Ho Yoon Ping, Yeow Chai Thiam, Tan Chong Seng, Ong Chong Swen, Lee Chee Keong, Wong Nai Chee, Teh Kim Po, Tan Ken Ten, Datuk Li Lian Ker, Datuk Tan Chai Ho, Koo Chin Nam, Chong Itt Chew, Liew Yuen Keong, Datuk Lim Choon Kin, Datuk Thong Fah Chong, Theng Book, Tan Seong Lim, Chai Kim Sen, Datuk Ei Kim Hock, Lee Chee Leong, Lee Kon Yin, Loh Seng Kok, Datuk Lee Sing Chooi, Tan Khai Beng, Chang Aik Meng, Ho You Weng, Yew Teong Look, Chin Yen Foo, Datuk Lee Chong Meng and Ong Chen Huing.
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