Three-cornered fight for MCA top post

A three-cornered fight is on for the MCA president’s post, with
deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (C), former president
Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat (L) and vice-president Gan Ping Sieu (R)
all throwing their hats into the ring.

KUALA LUMPUR - A three-cornered fight is on for the MCA president’s post, with deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, former president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and vice-president Gan Ping Sieu all throwing their hats into the ring.

Liow, who had announced his intentions to vie for the party presidency in July, arrived at Wisma MCA here at 1.30pm today to submit his nomination papers. He was accompanied by outgoing vice-president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.

They were cheered on by at least 200 ardent supporters as they made their way to the nomination centre at Dewan San Choon.

Ka Siong, who was named Liow’s running mate on Nov 27, is gunning for the deputy president’s post and will go up against challenger Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai come the party election this Saturday.

Meanwhile, Gan, widely seen as outgoing president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s right-hand man, arrived later at 2pm and was accompanied by Lim and about 100 fervent supporters.

Lim’s appearance alongside Gan came as a surprise after the former had declared on Dec 3 that he was not associated with any of the three presidential hopefuls.

Soi Lek had earlier announced that he would not defend the presidency and own up to MCA’s dismal performance in the recent 13th General Election, where it only won seven parliamentary and 11 state seats.

Ex-MCA president Tee Keat, who was ousted by Soi Lek during the party polls in 2010, will attempt to make a comeback to mainstream politics after he, too, submitted his nomination papers for the top post.

However, Tee Keat’s entry into the nomination centre was a low-spirited affair after as few as 20 supporters came to show their support for their former party chief, who is the only presidential candidate without a running mate.

The nomination process, which began at 1pm, was closed four hours later by the party’s outgoing secretary-general Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.

It will be a crowded race for the party’s four available vice-president’s posts, with nine party leaders, including party central committee member Datuk Chua Tee Yong, announcing their candidacies.

Tee Yong, who is Soi Lek’s son, is regarded as a serious contender for the post and will be challenged by Cho Ha, Dr Hou Kok Chung, Datuk Paduka Chiew Mei Fun, Datuk Wee Jeck Seng, Leong Yong Kong, Datuk Chong Itt Chew and Lee Wei Keat.

The last vice-presidential hopeful, Datuk Lee Chee Leong will be campaigning alongside Tee Yong.

In total, 58 candidates will be vying for the 43 available positions in the MCA central committee, the party’s highest decision-making body.

With the nomination process complete, a battle between the party’s three largest factions is now set in motion, with some 2,385 party delegates expected to turn up this Saturday to vote in the party’s new top leadership.