Pahang tycoon Pheng Yin Huah has been elected the fifth president of the Federation of Chinese Associations of Malaysia, popularly known as Hua Zong.

Pheng defeated businessman Tan Yew Sing by 59 votes at the Hua Zong elections.

Pheng, the Kinsteel Bhd and Perwaja Holdings Bhd managing director, said he was happy with the result and thanked all the delegates who supported him.

"I have faith in all the delegates from the 13 assembly halls, as we are working towards a better future for the Chinese community," he told reporters after Hua Zong's 10th annual general meeting here today.

He replaces Penang Chinese Town Hall president Lim Gait Tong who had to step down after serving the maximum three two-year terms in the organisation, which was set up in 1991.

Inti CEO concedes defeat

Tan, the chief executive officer of Inti Education Group, said he accepted the defeat and was prepared to work closely with the elected office-bearers.

Pheng, who is also president of the Pahang Chinese Assembly Hall since 1991, had teamed up with his Kedah counterpart Cheng Lai Hock to contest the No 1 and No 2 posts of Hua Zong.

hua zong election 240909 02 Cheng won the closely contested deputy president post, defeating Lim Kah Chuan of Johor by 13 votes.

The polling results were decided by 130 delegates with each state allowed to send 10 delegates from the 13 state Chinese assembly halls.

The elections had been watched closely as the new line-up is expected to shape the future of the federation, which is the umbrella body for 7,000 Chinese guilds and associations through the Chinese assembly halls nationwide.

After MCA and the Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, Hua Zong has been touted as the most powerful and influential Chinese organisation.

- Bernama