KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong retained his post as MCA president in the party election.Party secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon said Dr Wee was heading for a landslide victory against his opponent, Datuk Tan Chong Seng.
As of 10.55pm yesterday, Dr Wee received 553 electoral votes.
“Dr Wee has won and retained his post as party president,” Chong announced at Dewan San Choon of Wisma MCA here.
There is a mix of old and new faces for the four vice-president posts, which are won by incumbents Datuk Lim Ban Hong and Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, who secured 459 votes and 453 votes respectively.
They are joined by newcomers Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng with 477 votes and Datuk Lawrence Low Ah Keong with 459 votes.
Deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon returned unopposed.
When met at the hall, Dr Wee thanked all the delegates for their support.
“This is a significant endorsement and responsibility that I will carry and do my best to help revamp the party.
“Together with the new leadership, we will return strength to the party.
Winning team: Dr Wee (middle) with his new team at Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur. The new leaders are (from left) Low, Teik Cheng, Dr Mah, Jeck Seng, Lim and Ling. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star
“This will be a huge challenge (but) I believe we can do something and we will work hard for the party,” he added.
Asked about the new line-up of four vice-presidents consisting of old and new faces, Dr Wee said that all the seven candidates are capable leaders whom the delegates found hard to choose.
He said that Jeck Seng, who is Tanjung Piai MP, deserved to be elected as he won the support of the delegates to speak up for the people as well as the party.
Dr Wee noted that he would call for a meeting and have a brainstorming session on how to bring the party forward.
“These are among the things that the new team has to work on together after they have been given the mandate,” he added.
A total of 29,000 MCA delegates were involved in the election of the party’s new office bearers.
Earlier, Chong said the voter turnout was 56%.
At press time, candidates for the 25 central committee member positions, who received more than 300 votes and are likely to be elected, are Tan Chong, Datuk Koh Nai Kwong, Datuk Quek Tai Seong, Datuk Kang Meng Fuat, Lee Ting Han, Leaw Kok Chan, Tan Kok Eng, Datuk Chris Lee Ching Yong, Monna Ong Siew Siew and Chua Hock Kuan.
A total of 48 candidates were eyeing for the posts.
Nominations for the 2023 MCA elections took place on Sept 11.
A total of 160 polling stations had been set up nationwide.
The elections for the Youth and Wanita wings concluded on Saturday with Yong Peng assemblyman Ling Tian Soon and incumbent Wong You Fong winning the chairman posts respectively.
MCA will hold its annual general meeting (AGM) this coming Oct 21 and 22.
All winners will begin their terms as office-bearers after the AGM.
