The expected challenge against Kuching Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (KCCCI) incumbent president Wee Kok Tiong and his men in the coming elections fizzled out following a compromise yesterday.

Wee, 42 and a first-term president, gets to keep his post but his deputy Lee Kim Sin, an accountant by profession with close connections to Wee's family business interests, will give way to property developer Lee Chong Lin, who heads the rival group.

Sources said the compromise was reached at noon yesterday after top Chinese politicians in the government and community leaders stepped in to avoid what would have been a bitter contest that could cause more than a serious division in the 1,740-strong chamber and affect local Kuching Chinese politics.

The Wee group is said to have agreed not only to concede five posts to the Lee group but also to the names or personalities proposed to fill those posts.

Apart from Lee as deputy president, Richard Wee Liang Chiat, a corporate leader and son of a former KCCCI president Wee Hood Teck, will be made vice-chairperson, his first elected post in the committee.

Businessman and former city councillor Lu Kim Yong will be deputy secretary-general. Despite strong recommendation from the local branch of Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Lu was not picked by his party leadership as the Barisan Nasional candidate for Bandar Kuching in the last general elections. Instead Wee Kok Tiong was chosen butlost to DAP's Chong Chieng Jen.

The KCCCI secretary-general post is expected to be filled by Lee Kim Sin. The remaining two of the five posts are to go to Tan Kit Leng and Lau Thiang Sing.

As there are altogether 35 posts, including president and deputy president, in the management committee, this means that Wee and his men will hold the remaining 30 posts.

During nominations last weekend, the Wee group submitted a list of 37 names and the rival group 28 names after initial efforts by some mediators to try and work out a compromise failed.

Politicians, community leaders relieved

However, mediation efforts continued, according to a member of the Lee group.

"The horse-trading process went on. The problem was not so much in the concession in terms of the number of posts to accommodate the Lee group but the initial disagreement of the persons proposed to fill those posts," he said.

After politicians and community leaders intervened, the Wee group relented, and the five names from the rival faction were finally agreed on.

Contacted later, Richard Wee told malaysiakini that he heard of such a compromise being reached and that there would be a joint press conference tomorrow to announce the proposed line-up.

He added that the constitution allows for those already nominated to contest for the management committee posts to withdraw.

"Basically what this means is that 30 names will be withdrawn from the final list for the purpose of elections on March 18," he added.

News of a compromise brought sighs of relief from Chinese politicians in the government camp and among community leaders.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.