KUALA LUMPUR: The race for MCA leadership posts officially starts today with 101 aspirants vying for 31 posts, offering to serve the party and the Chinese community.
For the presidency, incumbent Ong Tee Keat is defending his post against his former deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek and former president Ong Ka Ting.
Today’s nomination is just a formality as the three main presidential contenders had toured the country, meeting delegates to state their reasons for offering themselves.
For the number two slot, Liow Ting Lai is defending his post against former vice-president Kong Cho Ha.
Ten aspirants are going for the four vice-president's posts while 86 are contesting the 25 Central Committee member positions.
Those contesting for the vice-president's post are Loke Yuen Yow, Dr Ng Yen Yen, Edward Khoo Keok Hai, Donald Lim Siang Chai, Dr Yeow Chai Thiam, Chor Chee Heung, Gan Ping Sieu, Yew Teong Look, Alex Wong Siong Hwee and Yap Pian Hon.
While the three top candidates are engaged in a “do or die” battle, the other two contestants for the second spot are depending on “block votes” from the top, according to party members. This means that members who voted for the president's post will also throw their support for the number two man.
Vote of no confidence ignored
Earlier, traffic along Jalan Ampang, where the MCA headquarters is located, was reduced to a crawl as motorists stopped by to watch the scene. Supporters of Tee Keat who wore orange T-shirts added some excitement to the event.
Even though Liow had said he was on his own, there is no denying that he is, in one way or another, aligned to Chua as both had succeeded in calling for fresh elections.
Liow had urged the party leaders, particularly Tee Keat and Chua, to abide by the resolutions of the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) but both leaders had ignored him.
However, last month, Chua and seven other central committee members resigned – forcing the party to hold fresh polls although its scheduled election is just a year away – 2011.
Tee Keat, who ignored the EGM's vote-of-no-confidence in October last year is “stubbornly” sticking to his stand that he is capable of uniting the troubled party.
Chua’s attempt to unseat Tee Keat is seen as a “revenge” as the latter had sidelined him by not giving him any responsibility when he had won the deputy presidency.
Matters turned worse when Tee Keat expelled him from the party after the sex scandal video resurfaced last year.
Up to the delegates now
As for Ka Ting, many members said he is jumping into the fray to “correct” the party which has lost its influence among Chinese voters following BN's drubbing in the March 2008 general election.
Ka Ting created some ripples when SMSes were sent out stating that he is backed by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who has denied it.
Now that the race has begun, supporters and veterans are agreed that the contest will be a close one.
Yap Pian Hon, a veteran MCA leader, said: “The delegates want someone who can unite the party and bring back confidence to the community.”
“I see that all the three main aspirants have similar intentions except that their approaches are different.
“But come March 28, it is the 2,300-odd delegates who will decide,” he said.
FMT
22/03/10
For the presidency, incumbent Ong Tee Keat is defending his post against his former deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek and former president Ong Ka Ting.
Today’s nomination is just a formality as the three main presidential contenders had toured the country, meeting delegates to state their reasons for offering themselves.
For the number two slot, Liow Ting Lai is defending his post against former vice-president Kong Cho Ha.
Ten aspirants are going for the four vice-president's posts while 86 are contesting the 25 Central Committee member positions.
Those contesting for the vice-president's post are Loke Yuen Yow, Dr Ng Yen Yen, Edward Khoo Keok Hai, Donald Lim Siang Chai, Dr Yeow Chai Thiam, Chor Chee Heung, Gan Ping Sieu, Yew Teong Look, Alex Wong Siong Hwee and Yap Pian Hon.
While the three top candidates are engaged in a “do or die” battle, the other two contestants for the second spot are depending on “block votes” from the top, according to party members. This means that members who voted for the president's post will also throw their support for the number two man.
Vote of no confidence ignored
Earlier, traffic along Jalan Ampang, where the MCA headquarters is located, was reduced to a crawl as motorists stopped by to watch the scene. Supporters of Tee Keat who wore orange T-shirts added some excitement to the event.
Even though Liow had said he was on his own, there is no denying that he is, in one way or another, aligned to Chua as both had succeeded in calling for fresh elections.
Liow had urged the party leaders, particularly Tee Keat and Chua, to abide by the resolutions of the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) but both leaders had ignored him.
However, last month, Chua and seven other central committee members resigned – forcing the party to hold fresh polls although its scheduled election is just a year away – 2011.
Tee Keat, who ignored the EGM's vote-of-no-confidence in October last year is “stubbornly” sticking to his stand that he is capable of uniting the troubled party.
Chua’s attempt to unseat Tee Keat is seen as a “revenge” as the latter had sidelined him by not giving him any responsibility when he had won the deputy presidency.
Matters turned worse when Tee Keat expelled him from the party after the sex scandal video resurfaced last year.
Up to the delegates now
As for Ka Ting, many members said he is jumping into the fray to “correct” the party which has lost its influence among Chinese voters following BN's drubbing in the March 2008 general election.
Ka Ting created some ripples when SMSes were sent out stating that he is backed by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who has denied it.
Now that the race has begun, supporters and veterans are agreed that the contest will be a close one.
Yap Pian Hon, a veteran MCA leader, said: “The delegates want someone who can unite the party and bring back confidence to the community.”
“I see that all the three main aspirants have similar intentions except that their approaches are different.
“But come March 28, it is the 2,300-odd delegates who will decide,” he said.
FMT
22/03/10
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