KUALA LUMPUR: Former MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek's comeback to active politics got off to a roaring start yesterday when all 33 branches in MCA Batu Pahat nominated him as division chief.

Looking elated, Soi Lek said the grassroots had apparently forgiven him for his involvement in a sex DVD scandal earlier this year.

The scandal resulted in the former Johor state chief resigning from all his government and party posts in January.

"It seems they have forgiven me. I have admitted my mistake and they accepted it, unlike some other people who refused to do so."

Nominations nationwide took place between 4pm and 8pm for divisional elections scheduled for July 27. Sixty out of 191 divisions are seeing contests.
Soi Lek said he had yet to decide which national-level post to contest as he needed to obtain feedback from the grassroots.

Talk is rife that the former health minister is eyeing the presidency.

Meanwhile, MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan leads the pack of MCA ministers who were returned unopposed. The housing and local government minister was returned unopposed as the Tapah division chief.

Three other MCA ministers did not take part in the divisional elections.

Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen are inactive at the division level, while Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai is not defending his Bentong division vice-chief post.

Veteran leaders like former vice-president Datuk Yap Pian Hon and former secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Ting Chew Peh are vying for a spot as a central delegate.

In Johor, Johor Baru division Youth chief Dr Wee Ka Siong won the division's top post uncontested as Datuk Freddie Long, known to be his political mentor, did not seek re-election.

However, former vice-president, Datuk Chua Jui Meng, is facing a three-cornered fight to defend his post as the Bakri division chairman.

He will be challenged by division treasurer Tay Khim Seng and MCA Jalan Abdullah branch deputy chief William Tan.

Other divisions seeing contest for top posts are Pulai, Ledang, Pasir Gudang, Segamat and Gelang Patah.

In the Federal Territory, state secretary Datuk Yew Teong Look is being challenged by Ng Si Fung for the Wangsa Maju division chief's post.

Besides Wangsa Maju, five divisions are seeing contests for the top post in the state -- Seputeh, Bukit Bintang, Batu, Segambut and Lembah Pantai.

In Selangor, all divisions, with the exception of Petaling Jaya Selatan and Subang are seeing contests for the top post.

Party vice-president Datuk Donald Lim and Lee Wei Kiat retained their PJ Selatan and Subang division chief posts uncontested respectively.

In Penang, five of 13 divisions will see a straight fight for the chairman's post. They are Tanjung, Bukit Bendera, Jelutong, Nibong Tebal and Tasek Gelugor.

In Seremban, two of the eight divisions will see three-cornered fights with state MCA heavyweights Datuk Peter Lai Yit Fee, the party's state secretary, taking on former Temiang state assemblyman Datuk Lee Yuen Fong and Taman Bunga Raya branch committee member Ng Chee Gong for the Seremban division chairman's post.

In Jempol, acting chairman Yap Chin Leong is being challenged by Lim Fui Ming and Teo Yook Kee.

State MCA deputy chairman Datuk Dr Yeow Chai Thiam was returned as Rasah division chief, while the Rembau, Tampin, Jelebu, Kuala Pilah and Teluk Kemang division top posts will see straight fights.