| Ong To Win Top Post, Majority Vote In Question |
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By Alan Ting and S. Retnanathan
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, locked in a straight fight with five-time vice-president Datuk Chua Jui Meng for MCA presidency, is set to retain the top post in the second biggest Barisan Nasional (BN) component, in Saturday's leadership elections.
But the burning question now is by what majority will the Housing and Local Government Minister defend his post.
A huge majority will reflect the strength wielded by Ong who was elected by the powerful central committee (CC) two years ago under a peace deal between the then president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and his deputy Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek.
"This will be Ong's first test of strength since helming MCA. He has to win convincingly to gain the respect of other leaders and follow his orders.
"A slim majority will see him sitting in a shaky position for some time until he consolidates himself," said a party veteran who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Judging from today's youth and wanita assemblies, the team "anointed" by Ong and his deputy Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy are expected to make a clean sweep of the movements' key positions.
The movements passing of resolutions supporting Ong and Chan for the No 1 and 2 posts respectively lend credence to speculations the youth and wanita delegates would go for candidates backed by the two.
Ong's aides say the president's camp was aiming at least 80 percent of the 2,353 central delegates to vote for Ong.
Ong is said to have garnered 70 percent support to date.
Chua's side rates the support for the former Health Minister at between 20 and 30 percent.
Observers say both sides were jostling for the remaining 20 percent votes, said to be the decider, if the contest proves to be a close fight.
"These 20 percent are silent voters who have been approached repeatedly but have yet to indicate who they will support.
"These delegates welcome anybody who wants to meet them but they don't tell or indicate their choice of candidates," said Ong's aide.
Political observers feel Chua will romp home 40 percent votes, a substantial percentage, indicating Ong does not enjoy delegates' solid support.
If past presidential contests are anything to go by, the challenger garners at least 20 percent votes.
In the 1990 party elections, Dr Ling polled 1,225 beating Wong Leong (no third name) by a 922-vote majority. In 1993, former Deputy Education Minister Datuk Woon See Chin locked horns with Dr Ling for the presidency.
Of the 1,600 delegates, more than 300 votes went to Woon.
The tussle for deputy presidency is more between incumbent Chan and secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Ting Chew Peh. The third contestant Chan Tsu Yuen, former deputy youth chief, is a lightweight and is unlikely to make any headway.
Analysts predict Chan has an upper hand over Dr Ting, a party veteran.
The two front-runners -- Chan and Dr Ting -- had a field day Friday, opening the youth and wanita assemblies respectively.
Nearly 30 percent of youth delegates are central delegates while 10 percent of wanita delegates will vote in the parent body polls.
The keenly awaited fight is the battle for the four vice-president's posts. Nine aspirants have joined the fray.
They are incumbents Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn and Datuk Fu Ah Kiow. Datuk Tan Chai Ho, Datuk Donald Lim, Datuk Chor Chee Heung, Datuk Ong Tee Keat, Datuk Yap Pian Hon and Datuk Chau Tet On are also in the running.
Party observers see the fight for vice-presidency as crucial as it involved top politicians holding government positions.
Dr Chua and Dr Fong are ministers while Fu, Tan, Lim and Ong (Tee Keat) are deputy ministers. Chor is a former deputy minister while Yap is a three-term former vice-president and Chau, former Sabah MCA chief.
Of the nine aspirants, the vice-presidential race for six was crucial as they hold government positions.
They risk being dropped from government posts if they failed to make it as vice-presidents, a party veteran said.
He said Dr Chua, Dr Fong and Fu might retain their posts but Donald Lim and Ong Tee Keat will have to slug it out for the fourth slot.
There are speculations four formulas are offered to delegates to pick from. The first is 3 1 -- retain three incumbents and pick one new candidate.
The second formula is (3-1 2) -- reject one of three incumbents and vote in two new faces.
The third formula (2 2) -- retain two incumbents and elect two newcomers.
The fourth formula (6-2), reject two of the six holding government posts.
The delegates are anxiously waiting for the "ultimate menu" expected to come after the central delegates are feted to dinner today, the eve of leadership elections.
The "cai dan" or "set menu" will decide the outcome of the 2005 MCA polls.
Prime Minister and BN Chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will open the 52nd MCA General Assembly tomorrow.
The event will be televised live by television stations.
-- BERNAMA
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