Incumbents Ong, Chan retain posts
Both the top MCA leaders - president Ong Ka Ting and his deputy Chan Kong Choy - have retained their posts in the party elections held today.
Both the top MCA leaders - president Ong Ka Ting and his deputy Chan Kong Choy - have retained their posts in the party elections held today.
Ong retained his post by beating vice-president Chua Jui Meng with a margin of 696 votes.
He bagged 1,515 (64.9 percent) against Chua's 819 (35.1). Ong's victory was nevertheless a blow to the incumbent leader as he had earlier vowed to win at least 80 percent of the votes.
Meanwhile, Chan polled 1,315 votes to triumph over party secretary-general Ting Chew Peh who garnered 738 votes. Outsider Chan Tse Yuen limped home with only 72 votes.
Chan's victory was even less emphatic, garnering 56.6 percent against Ting's 40.3.
In the hotly contested vice-presidents' race, incumbents Fong Chan Onn (1,496 votes) and Chua Soi Lek (1,398) have retained their posts.
The other two VP seats went to former Youth chief Ong Tee Keat (1,301) and newcomer Lim Siang Chai (1,301) who is MCA Selangor deputy chief.
The results of today's election - held at the party headquarters in Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur - was announced at 9pm by the party's election steering committee head Sak Cheng Lam
The Chinese-based party - the second biggest party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition - is holding its first elections in six years in conjunction with its 56th annual general meeting.
'A convincing majority'
Before the results was announced, Sak requested the results to be read only in Mandarin. This sparked off loud jeers and boos from the delegates with some appearing emotional.
His decision was later withdrawn upon the speaker's advice.
While on the stage to hear the results, Chan looked gloomy while Ting appeared to be in a jovial mood which initially led party members to speculate that Ting had won the deputy presidency.
At a press conference immediately after, Ong said his victory signified the beginning of his new term with his deputy and vowed that they would ensure there was better teamwork.
He also asked those who had lost in the elections to continue serving the party.
On the votes he had gained, which was slightly more than a two-thirds majority, Ong said: "I consider the majority of 696 votes as a convincing majority since I never said I expected a very high number of votes."
He added that Chan had also won with a clear-cut majority.
Rumours fly
Ong stressed that the elections' outcome showed there was no longer a distinction between a Team A and a Team B in the party, which previously spilt the party into two bitter factions.
"It is exactly as what we have been emphasising [...] when the delegates voted, they no longer considered the factor of Team A and Team B but chose the leaders based on their capability. It's a healthy indication."
On any reshuffle of MCA leaders who hold government posts, Ong, who is housing and local government Minister, said the leadership had 'not thought about it'.
His deputy Chan, who was present at the press conference, was asked why he had appeared to be tense just before the results were announced. He replied, "I have won".
On strong rumours that he had been defeated by Ting, Chan said, "Why do you all have to trust such rumours? I never took them seriously [...] don't you see me smiling all the while?"
After the results were announced, the MCA headquarters was a scene of chaos with photographers form both the local and international media jostling for the best shots of both the victors and the vanquished.
