MCA division polls on Sunday sprang two surprises in the contest for the Kelana Jaya and Bukit Bintang division chief posts.
Incumbent Kelana Jaya MCA chief Datuk Lee Hwa Beng failed to defend his post and lost to Ong Chong Swen, who was previously the division’s Wanita chief.
Ong garnered 82 votes against Lee’s 76, winning by six votes.
The Bukit Bintang division saw a razor thin victory for incumbent Datuk Lee Chong Meng who retained the division chief post by just one vote.
Ong, 57, who lost in the general election for the Subang Jaya state seat in March, said her immediate plan was to find a place to house her division office. The previous division office is now locked up.
“I want to look forward now and hope to rebuild our division and get our leaders to come back to work for the party.
“There will be more teamwork that will involve collaboration between the Wanita team and rest of MCA,” she said, adding that her team consists of the young, middle-aged and the elderly.
“The young will be able to learn to take over one day, the middle aged are experienced and the old are wise.”
Lee, however, could not be reached at press time.
Meanwhile, Bukit Bintang division chief incumbent Datuk Dr Lee Chong Meng said his single vote win over Tey Kock Yew did not mean that the division was divided.
Chong Meng, 55, said he was initially reluctant to defend his seat as he wasn’t prepared for it after losing in the March general election to DAP’s Fung Kui Lun.
“I went ahead after being urged by veterans in the area.”
On Sunday Chong Meng garnered 137 votes compared to Tey’s 136 votes, giving him his fifth term as division chief.
On his plans for the division, he said: “We will plan our strategies after the central party election when our president is elected.”
Tey could not be contacted at press time as he is overseas.