Nominations for the upcoming MCA party elections closed at 5pm this evening with no last-minute surprise candidate for any of the posts. The nominations started at 1pm at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

As expected, MCA incumbent president Ong Ka Ting is being challenged by vice-president Chua Jui Meng while there will be a three-cornered contest for the deputy presidency between incumbent Chan Kong Choy, Chan Tse Yuen and Ting Chew Peh.

Nine candidates will be going for the four vice-president posts. They are Chua Soi Lek, Lim Siang Chai, Tan Chai Ho, Chau Tet On, Fu Ah Kiow, Fong Chan Onn, Yap Pian Hon, Ong Tee Keat and Chor Chee Heung.

Forty-six other candidates, meanwhile, will be contesting for the 25 central committee member posts at the elections on Saturday.

The MCA Youth chief's position will see a tussle between prominent youth leader Liow Tiong Lai and Kapar division youth chief Song Kee Chai.

Four other party youth leaders - Loh Seng Kok, Lim Seng Chai, Ling Hee Leong and Liew Yuen Keong - will be slugging it out for the Youth deputy chairperson's office.

Seven other candidates are keeping their fingers crossed for a chance to hold one of the MCA Youth Wing's four vice-president's posts. They are Lee Li Yew, Hew Yoon Onn, Chew Kok Woh, Chiew Lian Keng, Loh Nam Hooi, Boey Chin Gan and Lee Liew Fee.

Wanita contest fizzles out

Over at the Women's Wing, MCA Wanita President Ng Yen Yen was returned unopposed at the close of nominations today. Her close ally Chew Mei Fun, however, will be facing a challenge form lawyer Tai Sim Yew.

Also winning uncontested were the four Wanita vice-chairpersons. They were Lee Pit Chern, Tan Ah Eng, Chang Yok Ying and Lim Bee Kau.

Candidates arrived at the nomination centre at the MCA headquarters at Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur as early as 11.30am. The centre was opened for the nominations from 1pm to 5pm with the half-hour objection period ending at 5.30pm. No protests were lodged, said MCA's election steering committee chairperson Sak Cheng Lam

Together with his deputy Chan and a group of supporters, Ong arrived the venue at about 2pm. His challenger Chua arrived an hour later.

Sak then briefed all the candidates and their agents on the guidelines for the elections to be held over the weekend.

This year's MCA polls is being touted as the most exciting in the party's history, with contests for all the top posts.

Final line-up for key posts