Tan Lian Hoe has won a second term as Gerakan Wanita chief uncontested when nominations for the party’s polls closed at 12 noon today.

gerakan youth and wanita nomination 031008 youth chief candidates and mah siew keong There will however be a three-cornered fight for the Youth chief post. The post is hotly contested by deputy Youth chief Lim Si Pin - who is son of former party leader Lim Keng Yaik - Kedah Youth chief Tan Keng Liang ( pic: second from right ) and Negri Sembilan Youth chief Chai Tek Loong ( pic: far right ).

The deputy Youth chief post will see a contest between current Youth vice-chief Paul Yong and newly-elected Penang Youth chief Oh Tong Keong

Nominations for Wanita and Youth posts were held between 10am and noon today, while nominations for the main body will be done tomorrow, with polling day on Oct 11.

‘Nationwide support’

gerakan youth and wanita nomination 031008 mah siew keong tan lian hoe Speaking to reporters later, Lian Hoe ( pic: far left ) said that a total of 15 new faces from different ethnic backgrounds have been nominated for the various posts in the women’s wing.

“This will definitely help the women wing’s in achieving its mission (of fostering racial unity),” she said.

Meanwhile, Lim told reporters that party Youth wing chiefs from most states have pledged their support for his candidacy.

“After the harsh (results during the) March 8 polls, we must not focus mainly on party work and thus we are now contesting as a whole team,” he said during a press conference where he was flanked by Youth leaders from various states.

He also claimed that he has the support from Youth delegates in Kedah and Negeri Sembilan, which his opponents, Keng Liang and Chai, hailed from respectively.

At a separate press conference, Chai claimed that he has been urged by the party’s top leadership to withdraw his candidacy.

“The phone calls came from both the main body and the Youth wing,” he lamented.