Former MCA vice-president Kong Cho Ha has today announced that he will be contesting for the deputy president's post in the party elections on March 28.

bagan pinang kong chor har 051009.jpg Kong, who is seen as a loyalist to former deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek, bagged the highest number of votes in the race of four vice-president’s post in 2008.

The housing and local government minister, who is from Perak, is widely considered as the running mate for Chua, who is expected to announce his bid for presidency tomorrow.

With the announcement, Kong is the first to declare his interest in  going for the deputy presidency.

Kong is likely to face another former vice-president Liow Tiong Lai for the post.

Liow is expected to be former party boss Ong Ka Ting's running mate.

Ong has earlier this week said that he planned to come out of retirement and bid for the president's post following calls from some party faithfuls urging him to help 'reunite' the embattled MCA.

Meanwhile, Liow said he had obtained the needed feedback from grassroot members and would be calling a press conference at MCA's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow morning to announce the post he would be going for.

"Delegates who will be voting in MCA's polls on March 28 must choose candidates who can work, not only in winning party elections but also the hearts fo the Chinese community in the next general election," he was quoted by Bernama today.

Three factions

Kong, who is Perak MCA chief, made his announcement at a ceremony to hand over letters of appointment to 134 Chinese new villages headmen from throughout the state at the Perak MCA building in Ipoh.  

Speaking to reporters later, Kong said he made the decision after receiving the blessings of grassroot members.

However, he did not wish to state who he would back for the presidency.

During the function, he had also announced 12 names who would be vying for seats in MCA's all-powerful central committee (CC) and urged party delegates to back them.

Three key factions are fighting to control the party which has an estimated RM2 billion in assets. They are led by Chua, Tee Keat and the Ka Ting-Liow respectively.