Donald makes it 3-way fight for MCA No 2
Athi VeerangganPublished: Sep 29, 2008 11:18 AM | Updated: Sep 29, 2008 11:22 AM
MCA vice-president Donald Lim Siang Chai has offered himself for the party deputy president post making it a three-cornered fight against ex-vice president Dr Chua Soi Lek and secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan.
By joining in the fight for deputy president, Lim has thrown a spanner in the works for Soi Lek. The two would split the anti-incumbent votes against Ka Chuan, elder brother Ka Ting.
MCA vice-president Donald Lim Siang Chai has offered himself for the party deputy president post making it a three-cornered fight against ex-vice president Dr Chua Soi Lek and secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan.
“I am offering myself to provide delegates another alternative and vision,” the former Petaling Jaya Selatan member of parliament told a press conference in Georgetown on Saturday night.
Lim’s announcement means that among MCA four incumbent vice-presidents, only Fong Chan On would stay put to defend his position as two others Ong Tee Keat and Dr Chua Soi Lek are vying for president and deputy president positions respectively.
According to Lim, he was motivated to go for party number two due to strong grassroots demand for reform to keep the party relevant and abreast with the rapidly changing political climate in the country.
“It’s politically timely and natural to move up the ladder to contest,” said Lim, who was in Penang to attend the state MCA annual delegates convention in TAR College at Tanjung Bunga.
He denied that he had any links with any particular camps or candidates vying for power in the party elections, which is to be held on Oct 18.
Lim outlined five key strategies for the leadership to take the party to new heights, including implementing democratic and multiracial reforms in both MCA and the ruling BN coalition.
“The leadership will have to address all these to re-position and re-brand the party,” said Lim.
By joining in the fight for deputy president, Lim has thrown a spanner in the works for Soi Lek (right). The two would split the anti-incumbent votes against Ka Chuan, who is elder brother of outgoing party president Ka Ting.
Soi Lek could be forced to contest the No 1 post instead - against maverick veteran Chua Jui Meng and front-runner Tee Keat.
Penang backs Liow for VP
Yesterday, 1,500-odd delegates at the Penang MCA convention unanimously passed the state liaison committee resolution to endorse and fully back the state chief Liow Tiong Lai to contest for the national vice-presidency.
Earlier, the 40-odd member strong state liaison committee endorsed Liow, also the national incumbent party youth chief, to contest the post.
“The state committee will campaign hard to make sure that all 140-odd Penang delegates to the national assembly vote Liow in the national party polls,” said deputy chief Lau Chiek Tuan.
Apart Liow, the Penang MCA has taken a neutral stand on other candidates.
“We will leave it to the delegates to decide on their own. The Penang MCA is neither supporting or against anyone else, except for backing Liow,” Lau told Malaysiakini.
When asked, a visibly delighted Liow said the state’s backing was a major boost to his campaign.
He also condemned the alleged character assassination campaign carried out on deputy president aspirant Chua, describing it as an insult to party leaders and called on those responsible to stop it for the sake of party unity.
Liow nonetheless expressed confidence that MCA members were matured enough to reject such mud-slinging and would not be influenced by it.
“MCA delegates will surely choose and vote the right candidates for the right posts to ensure the party move ahead,” said Liow, also the health minister.
Former health minister Chua has lodged a police report on Friday in response to a series of cartoons being anonymously distributed to delegates who will vote in party elections on.
“I am offering myself to provide delegates another alternative and vision,” the former Petaling Jaya Selatan member of parliament told a press conference in Georgetown on Saturday night.
Lim’s announcement means that among MCA four incumbent vice-presidents, only Fong Chan On would stay put to defend his position as two others Ong Tee Keat and Dr Chua Soi Lek are vying for president and deputy president positions respectively.According to Lim, he was motivated to go for party number two due to strong grassroots demand for reform to keep the party relevant and abreast with the rapidly changing political climate in the country.
“It’s politically timely and natural to move up the ladder to contest,” said Lim, who was in Penang to attend the state MCA annual delegates convention in TAR College at Tanjung Bunga.
He denied that he had any links with any particular camps or candidates vying for power in the party elections, which is to be held on Oct 18.
Lim outlined five key strategies for the leadership to take the party to new heights, including implementing democratic and multiracial reforms in both MCA and the ruling BN coalition.
“The leadership will have to address all these to re-position and re-brand the party,” said Lim.
By joining in the fight for deputy president, Lim has thrown a spanner in the works for Soi Lek (right). The two would split the anti-incumbent votes against Ka Chuan, who is elder brother of outgoing party president Ka Ting.Soi Lek could be forced to contest the No 1 post instead - against maverick veteran Chua Jui Meng and front-runner Tee Keat.
Penang backs Liow for VP
Yesterday, 1,500-odd delegates at the Penang MCA convention unanimously passed the state liaison committee resolution to endorse and fully back the state chief Liow Tiong Lai to contest for the national vice-presidency.
Earlier, the 40-odd member strong state liaison committee endorsed Liow, also the national incumbent party youth chief, to contest the post.
“The state committee will campaign hard to make sure that all 140-odd Penang delegates to the national assembly vote Liow in the national party polls,” said deputy chief Lau Chiek Tuan.Apart Liow, the Penang MCA has taken a neutral stand on other candidates.
“We will leave it to the delegates to decide on their own. The Penang MCA is neither supporting or against anyone else, except for backing Liow,” Lau told Malaysiakini.
When asked, a visibly delighted Liow said the state’s backing was a major boost to his campaign.
He also condemned the alleged character assassination campaign carried out on deputy president aspirant Chua, describing it as an insult to party leaders and called on those responsible to stop it for the sake of party unity.
Liow nonetheless expressed confidence that MCA members were matured enough to reject such mud-slinging and would not be influenced by it.
“MCA delegates will surely choose and vote the right candidates for the right posts to ensure the party move ahead,” said Liow, also the health minister.
Former health minister Chua has lodged a police report on Friday in response to a series of cartoons being anonymously distributed to delegates who will vote in party elections on.
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