KUALA LUMPUR: MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong has emerged as the party’s new president after securing a landslide victory in a three-cornered fight in leadership elections over the weekend.
He polled 447 votes to defeat his closest rival, Gan Ping Sieu, who obtained 182 votes.
Another presidential candidate, Ngoo Teck Keong, however, failed to get any vote.
Wee, who is also the sole Member of Parliament from MCA to win in the May 9 general election, is the party's 11th president.
His ally, Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, won the deputy president post after garnering 428 votes against his challenger, Datuk Tee Siew Keong, who obtained 201 votes.
The result was announced at 1am today by the party’s chief administrative director, Lim Chin Hai, at Wisma MCA here.
When met by the media at Dewan San Choon, Wee said the result is an endorsement by the delegates for him and Dr Mah to lead the party.
"I thank all delegates who placed their confidence in us and I hope the elected team will display seriousness in taking on their responsibilities with dedication,” he said.
Wee added that he will be calling for a meeting in the next few days with the team to chart the new direction of the party.
He also urged all party members to close ranks and work together to rebuild the party.
Meanwhile, the four newly-elected vice presidents are Datuk Lim Ban Hong, Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker and Datuk Yew Teong Look.
Voter turnout was 66.27 per cent or 21,468 of the total 32,397 divisional delegates eligible to vote.
They also elected 25 members of the party’s Central Committee.
This was the first time MCA used the direct voting system in its elections.