Kong is new MCA sec-gen

UPDATE 1

By Clara Chooi

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 —Former MCA vice-president Datuk Kong Cho Ha was today unsurprisingly appointed the party’s new secretary-general, a move that allows him to keep his Cabinet post as the Housing and Local Government Minister.

The decision was made during the party’s inaugural central committee (CC) meeting at the Corus Hotel here, chaired by its newly-elected president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

The party also appointed former deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho as its treasurer-general and Dr Chua’s former political secretary Datuk Tee Siew Keong as its national organising ceremony, and eight others to the CC, namely deputy Youth chief Datuk Mah Hang Soon, Datuk Tan Chin Meng, Ei Kim Hock, Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai, Koay Kar Huah, Senator Datuk Dr Yeow Chai Thiam, Senator Khoo Soo Seang and Lau Yik Tuan.

Dr Chua also appointed his team of presidential council members, which includes all four of the party’s newly elected vice-presidents — Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai, Datuk Chor Chee Heung and Gan Ping Sieu — and its two other vice-presidents, Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, who last week indicated that she would resign from her party post after the wing’s central CC meeting tomorrow.

The party’s state liaison chairmen were also appointed with Dr Chua holding control of two states — Johor and Perak, where Kong was the former chairman.

A CC member told The Malaysian Insider that this was due to the tremendous amount of grassroots support that Dr Chua commands in both these states.

Dr Ng, who garnered the most number of votes for the vice-president’s post in the party polls on March 28, also holds control of two states — Penang and Kelantan.

The other state chairmen include Dr Por Choo Chor (Perlis), Datuk Chong Itt Chew (Kedah), Donald Lim (Selangor), Tan Chai Ho (Wilayah), Dr Yeow Chai Thiam (Negeri Sembilan), Gan Tian Loo (Malacca), deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (Pahang), Toh Cheng Yow (Terengganu), Edward Khoo (Sabah) and others.

Wee, who was one of Liow’s strongest supporters in opposing Dr Chua’s leadership, was not retained as the Malacca state chief in what looks to be a direct blow to his position.

The meeting is still ongoing.