MCA Line-up – 12 GE 2008 – 16 incumbents & 22 New Hopefuls; Soi Lek’s Labis - son Tee Yong; Kong Choy’s Selayang - Lee Li Yew; Ka Chuan -Tanjung Malim

MCA Line-up – 12 GE 2008 – 16 incumbents & 22 New Hopefuls; Soi Lek’s Labis - son Tee Yong; Kong Choy’s Selayang - Lee Li Yew; Ka Chuan -Tanjung Malim; Ling Hee Leong - Gopeng

Noticeable not on the Line-up are veterans Datuk Chua Jui Meng, Datuk Yap Pian Hon, Datuk Ting Chew Pei, Datuk Loke Yuen Yow - not among the contestants and are replaced by new comers. The Labis seat held by former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek is taken over by his second son Chua Tee Yong 31. And the seat held by deputy president, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, the Transport Minister (not contesting for health reason) is slated for MCA Selayang Youth Chief Lee Li, a master degree holder. Other prominent names in the list are Datuk Ling Hee Leong, son of former party president Tun Ling Liong Sik will make his electoral debut in Gopeng and MCA secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan ( BELOW) replacing Datuk Loke Yuen Yow for the Tanjong Malim.

February 22, 2008 02:08 AM

MCA President Moves To Kulai, End Of The Road For Deputy Chief

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- MCA, the second largest Barisan Nasional (BN) component party, retained 16 incumbents and unveiled 22 new faces to contest for Parliament on a day overshadowed by the exit of its deputy president, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy. Chan, who is also Transport Minister, said he was opting out for health reasons and had raised the matter with party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting eight months ago. "Health is the primary reason. I have conveyed to the prime minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) and he has asked me to give it a serious thought before making the final decision. However, I'm firm about that (not to contest)," he told a packed press conference attended by more than 200 journalists from various media.

Chan (ABOVE, Left with tongue out listening to the praises from his boss) , who was accompanied by Ong and other party leaders to the press conference, will remain as deputy president until the next party election expected to be held by the end of this year. When asked by reporters, Chan denied that he was under pressure not to contest because of the Port Klang Free Trade (PKFZ) issue. Ong said Chan’s name was submitted to the prime minister but Chan himself said he would not run even if Abdullah gave his approval for him to contest. Ong, the Housing and Local Government Minister, believed that Chan's decision would not affect the partys showing in the election. "We are confident. We are going to face this election as a solid and complete team. This (decision by Chan) would not dampen our spirit. We have done what we can and we have to respect his decision," he said. As in the previous polls, the MCA would field candidates for 40 parliamentary seats. But veterans Datuk Chua Jui Meng and Datuk Yap Pian Hon are not among the contestants.

Ong(ABOVE) will move to stand in in Kulai, leaving the Tanjung Piai seat, which he won in 2004, to his former political secretary, Wee Jeck Seng to contest. Chua Tee Yong, the second son of former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr

Chua Soi Lek, was a surprise inclusion among the new faces. Tee Yong, (ABOVE) 31, an accountant, will stand in his fathers constituency of Labis in Johor. Datuk Ling Hee Leong, son of former party president Tun Ling Liong Sik, will make his electoral debut in Gopeng.

MCA Selayang Youth Chief Lee Li Yew (BELOW) will also take to the polls for the first time, replacing Chan in Selayang.

The incumbents retained are vice-presidents Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn (Alor Gajah), Datuk Ong Tee Keat (Pandan), Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai (Petaling Jaya Selatan), Wanita chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen (Raub) and Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai (Bentong), Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory chairman Datuk Tan Chai Ho (Bandar Tun Razak), Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow (Kuantan), Wanita MCA deputy chief Datuk Paduka Chew Mei Fun (Petaling Jaya Utara), Federal Territory parliamentary secretary Datuk Yew Teong Lock (Wangsa Maju), former Deputy Home Affairs Minister and Central Committee member Datuk Chor Chee Heung (Alor Setar), Teh Ah Eng (Gelang Patah), Wee Ka Siong (Air Hitam), Wong Nai Chee (Kota Melaka, Teng Boon Soon (Tebrau) and Datuk Kong Cho Ha (Lumut).

Ka Tings elder brother and party secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan,has been given a second chance to contest this time after losing in Batu Gajah in 2004. Ka Chuan replaces Datuk Loke Yuen Yow for the Tanjong Malim contest while Datuk Dr Lee Chong Meng gets another shot in Bukit Bintang. A new face among the MCA contestants is the energetic MCA Beliawanis bureau chief Carol Chew Chee Lin, 27, who is also the confidential secretary to Deputy Finance Minister, Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen. Chew will take on DAP's Teresa Kok in the Seputeh parliamentary seat in Kuala Lumpur.
The other first timers in the parliamentary seats contest are Penang MCA Wanita chief and lawyer Ooi Siew Kim (Bayan Baru), Chinese affairs expert Dr Hou Kok Chung (Kluang) Tay Pooi Chuan (Bakri), former Balakong state assemblyman Hoh Hee Lee (Serdang).

Eight state assemblymen will switch from state to parliamentary seats.
They are Selangors Datuk Ch'ng Toh Eng who will stand in Klang, Penangs Datuk Koay Kar Huah in Bukit Gelugor, Kedahs Boey Chin Gan in Padang Serai, Negeri Sembilans Datuk Yew Chai Tiam in Rasah, MCA Wanita secretary-general Datuk Yu Chok Tow in Seremban and four-term Subang ya state assemblyman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng in Kelana Jaya, Datuk Yik Phooi Hong (Ipoh Barat)and Datuk Lee Chee Leong (Kampar). he remaining new faces are Ong Tang Chuan (Bukit Mertajam), Song Choy Leng (Bagan), Liew Mun Hon (Ipoh Timur) and Cheah Yoke Can (Batu Gajah).

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Thursday February 21, 2008; MYT 9:03:00 PM

12 new faces for MCA; By LEE YUK PENG; STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting announced the MCA line-up at Wisma MCA here on Thursday evening, saying that 12 new faces and 10 incumbent state assemblymen made up 55% of the new line-up for the parliamentary seats. The two veterans who made a comeback were Dr Lee Chong Meng who would be defending his Bukit Bintang seat and former state executive councillor Datuk Ong Ka Chuan, who would be contesting in Tanjung Malim. The 12 new faces are Carol Chew (Seputeh), Dr Jeffrey Goh (Cheras), Chua Tee Yong (Labis), Tee Puay Chuan (Bakri), Dr Hou Kok Chung (Kluang), Ooi Siew Kim (Bayan Baru), Sharon Song Choy Ling (Bagan), Ong Tam Chuan (Bukit Mertajam), Ling Hee Leong (Gopeng), Liew Mun Hon (Ipoh Timur), Cheah Yoke Can (Batu Gajah) and Lee Li Yew (Selayang).

The 10 state assemblymen who will be contesting for parliamentary seats are Boey Chin Gan (Padang Serai), Koay Kar Huah (Bukit Gelugor), Yik Phooi Hong (Ipoh Barat), Datuk Lee Chee Leong (Kampar), Datuk Hoh Hee Lee (Serdang), Datuk Lee Hwa Beng (Kelana Jaya), Datuk Ch'ng Toh Eng (Klang), Datuk Yu Chok Yow (Seremban), Datuk Dr Yeow Chai Thiam (Rasah) and Wee Jeck Seng (Tanjung Piai).

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February 22, 2008 02:04 AM
BN Manifesto Not Just To Attract Voters, Says Ka Ting

PETALING JAYA, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) manifesto is more than a mere document to draw the attention of voters, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said Thursday. Unlike the manifesto of opposition parties, it is a document that outlines the continuity of the BN government's long-term policies to ensure national development and the wellbeing of the people, he said. Ong, who is the Housing and Local Government Minister, called on the people to give the mandate to the BN in the March 8 general election to ensure a bright future for the nation. He spoke at a dinner in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration at the Civic Centre here. More than 10,000 people attended the function. Also present was Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr

Mohamad Khir Toyo. Khir, in his speech, said the people should be rational when voting for their candidates in the general election. He said they should be wary of the sweet promises made by the opposition political parties.
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Thursday February 21, 2008; MYT 9:20:41 PM
Kong Choy not seeking re-election (updated)
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy on Thursday announced that he would not seek re-election in this general election. Chan cited health reasons for his decision, but refused to elaborate on what ailed him. He stressed it was personal. He will, however, stay on as the party deputy president; and more importantly - he will diligently carry out his duties as chairman of the party's general election national steering committee. "I made the decision some eight months back. I had conveyed my intention to party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting back then. I could not announce it sooner because I am the chairman of the general election steering committee and I had a lot of duties to perform.

ABOVE: Sick Chan stepping down not because of PKFZ

"I had to make sure everything was in place first and wait for a suitable time. Today is the suitable time," he said, speaking at a packed press conference Thursday evening at the Wisma MCA here. Chan, 53, has been an MP for four terms. He was first elected as the Tanah Rata state assemblyman in 1986 and has served in various party capacities including MCA Youth chief and vice-president. The Bentong-born Chan entered the political foray when he joined MCA at the age of 25. After a five-year stint as a university lecturer, Chan became political secretary to the late health minister and MCA vice-president Tan Sri Chan Siang Sun in 1986 and moved up the ladder until he became the present MCA deputy president.

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February 21, 2008 14:23 PM MCA To Unveil Candidates' List Today

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- The MCA will unveil this evening its list of candidates for the general election as speculation heightened that deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy will call it quits after 28 years in politics. MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting has scheduled a press conference at Wisma MCA at 5pm after his return from a Chap Goh Meh event in Pekan Nenas, Pontian, said an aide to Ong. An aide to Chan said the Transport Minister may hold a press conference this afternoon before the parties candidates are announced ahead of nomination day on Sunday. Chan is the incumbent MP for Selayang. The MCA president met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, yesterday to finalise the candidates. The MCA, the second major component of the BN, captured 31 of the 40 parliamentary and 76 of the 90 state seats it contested in the last general election in 2004.

Thursday February 21, 2008
MCA No 2 may announce his decision on contest today

By WONG CHUN WAI and WONG SAI WAN
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: With the MCA scheduled to announce its list of candidates tomorrow, speculation is rife that MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy is still unsure whether he would contest in the general election. It is learnt that the Transport Minister is seriously considering withdrawing from the race for health reasons and that he had already conveyed his plans to party leaders. Until 1.30 this morning, the Pahang politician was still huddled with his aides and supporters to talk about his plan but it is understood that he may announce his decision today.

Chan: A former UPM lecturer, he joined MCA at age 25 He spent the late afternoon meeting with party members and attended a dinner at the Rasah New Village in Seremban but left no indication on the talk about his political future. Chinese dailies reported on the front pages of their evening editions yesterday that Chan, who is the incumbent MP for Selayang, would withdraw from the polls on medical grounds. Chan and party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting could not be reached for response to the speculation by the vernacular press. Party sources said Chan had already conveyed his decision to the party leadership, adding that Chan had been told that “it is up to him to decide”. They added that there was no need for Chan to rush to make a decision as the nominations would only be on Sunday and that “anything could happen between now and Sunday”. A close friend of the former Universiti Pertanian Malaysia lecturer said Chan had talked about his wish to step down “for the past few months” but he had persuaded him to continue. On Aug 29 last year, his press secretary Ng Kok Wai said in a statement that Chan had gone on a two-week leave due to health reasons. The statement said he needed to go abroad for a medical check-up and consultation and that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had approved the leave.

On Sept 12, he reported for work after the medical check-up in Australia, quashing rumours that he had resigned. Chan said he managed to spend more time with his family while in Australia but declined to disclose details of his medical condition, saying it was “personal”. Chan, 53, has been an MP for four terms. He was first elected as the Tanah Rata state assemblyman in 1986 and has served in various party capacities including MCA Youth chief and vice-president. The Bentong-born Chan entered the political foray when he joined MCA at the age of 25. After a five-year stint as a university lecturer, Chan became political secretary to the late health minister and MCA vice-president Tan Sri Chan Siang Sun in 1986 and moved up the ladder until he became the present MCA deputy president.