As the MCA election frenzy reaches the final lap, three major Chinese dailies today focused on incumbent president Ong Ka Ting's final sprint to the finish line.
In a Sin Chew Daily centrespread, Ong said teaming up with his deputy Chan Kong Choy to campaign for the polls was not his decision but the wishes of the party members.

He also said that he needs a large mandate during the elections in order to convincingly communicate Chinese community issues with other ethnic leaders within the government.

On his challenger Chua Jui Meng's claim that Ong had set up the Chinese Economic Consultative Committee before the party election to garner support, he said the community's interest is more important than the party election and thus cannot be delayed.

"Whoever will be the president after the election, he will continue to lead this committee," he said.

Trusted deputy

Ong also said his relationship with former MCA president Dr Lim Liong Sik is "still the same". He also dismissed rumours of a tiff between vice-president hopeful Dr Chua Soi Lek and himself.

He refuted rumours that his brother Ong Ka Chuan, who is the Perak MCA chairperson, wanted to contest for vice-presidency.

Another daily, the MCA-owned Nanyang Siang Pau also featured a centrespread on the president, which stated that his collaboration with Chan should not be seen as a 'menu' (preferred candidates list).

Ong also told the broadsheet that the 'report card' distributed to delegates recently, was not based on Jui Meng's manifesto as some of the projects have been planned for years.

The president also received prominent coverage in the Oriental Daily News. In a two-page interview, he said that Chan is his most trusted deputy.