MCA WOMEN’S AGM Incumbent MCA Wanita vice-chairperson Heng Seai Kie has beaten Penang BN information chief Tan Cheng Liang for the wing’s top post, with her team making a clean sweep of other positions contested today.

NONE Heng ( right ), who is said to be aligned with incumbent party president Dr Chua Soi Lek’s faction, garnered 978 votes in the MCA Wanita election, winning with a margin of 137 votes against Tan’s 841.

Meanwhile, the four incoming vice-chairpersons for the wing are Wong You Fong, Lim Bee Kau, See Meng Geok and Ong Chong Swen, who edged out the remaining two contenders, Saw Ooi Leng and Chin Kim Moi.

Lee Pit Chern won the position of deputy chairperson uncontested.

All of the candidates who won in today’s election are listed in Heng’s campaign material as members of her team.

Commenting on the results, Tan told reporters that her defeat was not unexpected as her outlook was poor to begin with.

When asked if this was due to the smear campaign against her, she, instead, attributed her defeat to the difficulties she faced in campaigning.

“I think my problem is that I don’t have enough time to go around the country compared to her (Heng). She was a two-term senator and one-term deputy minister, so she has an advantage whereas I don’t have an advantage.

“When I try to go around, I also face problems. There are some divisions that do not allow their central delegates to come out and meet me. That is my problem, so I cannot communicate what I want to do and my manifesto across.

“As a result, some central delegates - who are new - perhaps they do not know me,” said the prison councillor.

NONE Tan ( right ) added that she would return to her counselling work after the party election, and then decide on her political future after celebrating Christmas.

Meanwhile, Heng said she is happy with her team’s clean sweep, and dismissed the fact that almost all of her running mates won the election with much larger majorities than she did.

Except in the Under-35-Year-Olds category, and the straight fight between Heng and Tan, all winning candidates had well over 1,000 votes out of the 1,838 delegates present.

“The important thing is the whole team won together and everyone is united,” she said.

She added that among the factors contributing to her small margin was factional infighting in MCA.

“Although this is called the Wanita MCA election, but behind the scenes there are many factors at play,” she said.

The full line-up of the new office bearers are as follows:

Wanita chief

Heng Seai Kie - 978 votes

Deputy Wanita chief

Lee Pit Chern (won uncontested)

Wanita vice-chief

Wong You Fong - 1,652 votes

Lim Bee Kau - 1,317

See Meng Geok - 1,265

Ong Chong Swen@ Ong Chong S - 1,188

Wanita central committe members (open category)

1.  Chiew Hong Lan - 1,655 votes

2.  Tan Wen Ooi - 1,652

3.  Lai Poey Yee - 1,643

4.  Chong Sau Chan - 1,637

5.  Nyam Mei Ting - 1,617

6.  Koo Lay Chak - 1,615

7.  Wong Pik Min - 1,610

8.  Yap Kim Lan - 1,598

9.  Kathleen Wong Mei Yin - 1,596

10. Teh Siew Boey - 1,589

11. Kwang Swee Yuen - 1,580

12. Choong Saw Fen - 1,576

13. Tan Tok Kee - 1,551

14. Chua Fong Ling - 1,538

15. Wee Lee Hooi - 1,512

16. Tan Choo Kuan - 1,499

17. Yap Yem Ming - 1,462

18. Leong Siew Kam - 1,342

19. Wong Kui Fong - 1,241

20. Lim Henn Jin@ Margaret Lim - 1,231

21. Teh Lay Cheng - 1,227

22. Ng Siok Hwa - 1,219

23. Teoh Saw Ling - 1,182

Wanita central committee members (Under-35 category)

1. Yap Lay Keat - 976 votes

2. Monna Ong Siew Siew - 845

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