Who among the three candidates will MCA delegates put their faith in to lead the party in one of its most difficult period?

Political observer Ooi Kee Beng is betting on Ong Ka Ting to return as MCA president at the hotly contested party’s polls tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur.

azlan “He had at least the honour of being the only BN leader to resign after the shame of March 8,” said Ooi in an email interview with Malaysiakini .

March 8, 2008, dubbed as a ‘political tsunami’, saw BN losing its two-thirds majority in Parliament and the opposition Pakatan Rakyat winning five states.

“But being good for MCA may have to mean being credible to the Chinese community, meaning one who can stand up to Umno,” added the coordinator and fellow of the Malaysian Study Programme at the Singapore-based Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

“None of them are known to be capable of that,” he quipped.

Ka Ting is making an unusual comeback to face incumbent president Ong Tee Keat and former deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek.    

For others, it is difficult to predict which one of the three would obtain the most votes.

Young candidates preferred

“However, my reading of the general mood or overall sentiment of the Chinese community is that they prefer younger ones,” said political analyst James Wong.

That could mean either be Ka Ting or Tee Keat, as both are of the same age and are younger than Chua.

“(But) Tee Keat is, to his critics and detractors, very individualistic and egoistic. To his supporters and admirers, however, he is 'idealistic' and 'fearless', said Wong, who is a publications consultant.

“In my view, Tee Keat lacks organisational skills as he is essentially an old-fashion literati and wordsmith,” added the former DAP MP for Kampar.

“Sometimes, he also gives a strong impression to MCA grassroots that he is a snob,” he added.  

A total of 101 candidates will eye for 31 posts in the much-awaited polls, where there will be three candidates for president, two for deputy president, 10 for vice-presidents (four posts) and 86 central committee members (25 seats).

Meanwhile, Centre for Policy Initiatives director Lim Teck Ghee is not particularly excited by the prospect of any of the three winning the MCA race.

“I think whoever is elected will not make an iota of difference to the community or country unless the MCA is prepared to stand up to Umno on big and contentious issues that affect Chinese Malaysians,” said the former director of think-tank Asli.