Chew Mei Fun became the new MCA Wanita chief when she won the post uncontested during nominations today for party polls.

She replaces Dr Ng Yen Yen, who will contest a vice-president's post at the party elections on Saturday.

wee ka siong visit damansara school 020508 wee ka siong and chew mei fun Also winning a post uncontested was Wee Ka Siong, who takes over the Youth wing as of today. He replaced Liow Tiong Lai who is moved into the vice-presidential race.

Chew ( photo: left ) was deputy chief in the Wanita movement while Wee ( photo: right ) was Youth wing secretary up to today.

Chew, who was among several senior party members to have been defeated in the general election, told reporters that she aimed to expand the scope of the wing into covering issues not just relating to women and family matters.

1571 mca 2008 party election candidates "We want to be the people's politicians. Apart from giving importance to issues concerning women and family matters, we would also like to expand our scope to politics, education and economy," said Chew, who is also the Selangor Wanita MCA chief.

Along with Chew, the deputy chief post for the Wanita wing was also won uncontested by Yu Chok Tow, the incumbent secretary-general.

Eight-corner fight for vice-presidency

Liow and Ng will be involved in an eight-corner fight with incumbent vice-president Fong Chan Onn, former vice-president Yap Pian Hon, Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung, Kuala Langat MCA division vice-chairman Lim Teck Chong, Johor deputy chief Tan Kok Hong and Deputy Finance Minister Kong Cho Ha.

The candidates for deputy president are former vice-president Dr Chua Soi Lek, incumbent vice-president Donald Lim, current party secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan and a former Penang state assemblyperson Lee Hack Teik.

wanita mca agm 1808 ng yen yen Ng stands to set a precedent if she wins one of the three slots for elected vice-presidents.

Talking to reporters after filing his nomination paper, Soi Lek also expressed confidence in winning the race for the deputy presidency.

"I do not think about losing. Whenever I go to war, I expect to win," said the former health minister.

"I am confident because I have confidence in the delegates," he said.

The tussle for the presidency will see a straight fight between another former vice-president Chua Jui Ming and incumbent vice-president Ong Tee Keat.

A whopping 63 candidates will vie for the 25 slots in the central committee.

This will be the biggest contest for posts in the party's history. Nominations opened at 1pm and closed at 5pm today.

The favourite for top post

Incumbent president Ong Ka Ting and his deputy Chan Kong Choy are not defending their posts.

MCA is trying to regain the hearts and minds of the Chinese community following its humiliating defeat in the March general election.

At the national polls, the party only managed to win 46 state and parliamentary seats compared to the 106 it had secured at the 2004 polls.

The new batch of leaders will have a tough task in regaining the support of the community.

ong tee keat interview 210708 03 The new batch of leaders will be elected by 2,388 delegates from 190 divisions this Saturday.

Tee Keat ( photo ), the favourite to be the party's next president, told reporters after filing his nomination papers that he would be campaigning as much as possible to win the necessary votes.

"On my plans for MCA if I win, I have already mentioned it in my manifesto. I am open to the multiracial outlook too. But our approach should be to fight for all races, not only for the Chinese," he said.

Meanwhile Tee Keat's challenger Jui Meng accepted the fact that he was the underdog in the contest.

"This is the political and democratic process we should abide by. I hope it would be a clean contest and I am sure the delegates want it that way," he said.