Wee Ka Siong-Chong Sin Woon pair-up likely for top MCA posts

Andrew Chin Andrew Chin Updated 5 years ago · Published on 16 Jun 2018 7:23AM · 6 Comments

MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong is the only contender for the party president's post so far, and it does not look as though he will be facing many challengers. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 16, 2018.

MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong and Youth chief Chong Sin Woon are likely to pair up to contest the top two posts in the party’s upcoming polls.

But their biggest challenges may be apathy and indifference following the party’s disastrous showing in GE14.

Wee, the sole MCA federal lawmaker, had announced his intention to contest the presidency but has yet to announce his running mate.

Chong was deputy education minister in the last term and contested the Seremban federal seat but was defeated by DAP’s Anthony Loke.

MCA won only one of the 39 parliamentary seats it contested on May 9. Its president Liow Tiong Lai said shortly after the defeat that he would not seek re-election at the party polls later this year.

To date, no one besides Wee has stepped forward for the president’s post and the party rank and file believe there will not be too many takers.

A Klang MCA grassroots leader told The Malaysian Insight vice-presidents Chew Mei Fun and Hou Kok Chung did not have the track records to be effective opposition leaders.

“Chew lost to Tony Pua in 2008, she lost again on May 9 in Raub, the people have rejected her. And although Hou has a scholarly image, he also lost time and again in the elections. His performance as deputy higher education previously was so-so, he also rarely comment on current affairs,” said the source.

She said grassroots members nationwide are more in favour of the Wee-Chong pairing as both are more vocal among the top leadership.

Both Wee and Chong were groomed and promoted into the party leadership by former MCA president Ong Tee Keat

Wee, 49, from Malacca started his political career in MCA in 1992. He made a name for himself when Ong appointed him as MCA Youth education bureau chief.

Since 2008, he has the deputy education minister post and later, minister in the prime minister’s department in charge of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and Chinese new village affairs under the former Najib Razak administration.

He is has been the Ayer Hitam MP since 2004.

The 43-year-old Chong is from Negri Sembilan. He started his political career in 2001 as Ong’s special assistant when the latter was deputy youth and sports minister.

He has also has worked for former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and was on a panel for the now defunct Special Affairs Department (Jasa), which had functioned as the former government’s propaganda unit.

He was appointed as senator twice, in 2014 and 2017, and served as deputy education minister II under the former Najib Razak administration.

Chong won the MCA Youth chief by 93 votes in 2013. – June 16, 2018.

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Comments

  • Wee is obviously going to be President even when Liow Tiong Lai took over. Chong is s scrappy and grassroot leader. But both cannot see the real big picture. MCA in reality is like any company, once it goes bankrupt, it has to seek completely different new business.Both are not entreprenuers even Wee.

    Posted 5 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • The main issue really is not survival of MCA but the future of UTAR and TARUC. Frankly, they should hand it over to DAP - free.

    Posted 5 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • The rationale for the creation and continued existence of MCA has disappeared. Conditions have changed since the time of Tan Cheng Lock and H.S.Lee. I suggest the leadership of MCA should talk with Lim Kit Siang to hand over all the assets and properties of MCA to DAP and for all MCA members to join DAP.

    Posted 5 years ago by Yok Foo Yap · Reply

  • Tack team loser

    Posted 5 years ago by Leslie Chan · Reply

  • Ka Siong didn't get it. He must answer this question: what is the relevance of MCA now? It has no relevance. Can MCA stand up for justice n truth? No. Their past record shows clearly that they don't have moral principles to stand up for what is right n pay the price for it. When it matters most to the rakyat, n instead of standing up to Umno publicly n if need be, pay the price of it, they attacked DAP n pick up all the small issues n blow it out of proportion n distort it. So, you have proven yourself useless.

    Posted 5 years ago by Peace Maker · Reply

  • One a toothless blind old lioness while the other a lame three legged mare MCA might as well close shop.Tpical eunuchs now with no other sources of revenue will tried to reap clean all what is left

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Thian Siong · Reply