Tuesday 17 December 2013

MCA polls: 72 chase 31 positions in Saturday’s MCA polls

KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA elections on Saturday will be a crowded race with 72 candidates vying for 31 posts.

The spotlight will be on the three-cornered tussle for the presidency – deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, 52, vice-president Gan Ping Sieu, 47, and former president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, 57.

Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, 45, and vice-president Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai, 58, will fight it out for the deputy president’s post.

Nine candidates are in the running for the four vice-presidencies while 58 are contesting the 25 central committee member seats.

This is the second bid by Ong for the number one post after losing it to Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek in 2010.

It is also the second try by Lim after losing to Dr Chua in the 2008 elections.

Liow is teamed up with Dr Wee while Gan is with Lim this round.

The MCA Youth election on Thursday will also see a packed field with 69 candidates fighting for 34 posts.

Selangor MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon and Batu MCA division Youth chief Datuk Goh Gaik Meng are vying for the Youth chief’s post.

Wanita MCA’s elections on Friday, however, will be relatively tame with 43 candidates in the race for 31 posts.

Perak Wanita MCA chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie, 51, and former Penang Wanita MCA chief Tan Cheng Liang, 54, are in the straight fight for the Wanita chief’s post.

Datuk Lee Pit Chern, 62, was returned unopposed for the Wanita deputy chairman’s post when nomination closed at 5pm.

A total of 184 candidates filed their nomination for MCA and its Wanita and Youth elections at Wisma MCA yesterday.

Election steering committee chairman Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha commended the candidates and their supporters for ensuring a smooth nomination process.

He said there was no objection to all nominations filed.

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