Ex-deputy minister Hou Kok Chung to vie for MCA veep

Former deputy higher education minister Dr Hou Kok Chung will be going for the MCA vice-president’s post.

With Hou announcing his candidacy, the number of aspirants for the four vice-president posts now stands at six after former MCA Wanita chief Chiew Mei Fun announced her candidacy yesterday.

The former MCA central committee member said he decided to vie for the position as he has been part of the party’s transformation team led by party deputy president Liow Tiong Lai.

“Let the delegates decide what is the best for the party,” he told Bernama in a phone interview.

In the party election held in 2010, Hou (left) was elected to the party’s 25 member central committee.

Apart from Hou, the former director of the Institute of China Studies at Universiti Malaya, and Chiew, the other four aspirants are Chua Tee Yong, Lee Chee Leong, Member of Parliament for Tanjung Piai, Johor Wee Jeck Seng, and state assemblyperson for Gurun, Kedah Leong Yong Kong.

For the party president’s post so far there are three aspirants including deputy president Liow Tiong Lai, former president Ong Tee Keat and vice-president Gan Peng Shieu. Incumbent Dr Chua Soi Lek is not defending the post.

For deputy president, two aspirants, including Youth chief Wee Ka Siong and vice-president Donald Lim Siang Chai have announced their intention to contest the post.

The nomination for the party election will held on Dec 16 with election for MCA Youth on Dec 19, Wanita MCA (Dec 20) and MCA main line up on Dec 21.

- Bernama