Ong And Chan Relinquish Posts As S'gor And Pahang MCA Chiefs

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Bernama) -- The MCA top leadership today made surprise changes involving five state liaison committee chairmen, including MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting who relinquished his post as Selangor MCA chief.
His deputy, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy also relinquished his post as Pahang state chairman.
However, Ong maintained the post of Negeri Sembilan chairman and Chan the Penang chairman, Ong told reporters after chairing the MCA Central Committee (CC) meeting here today which endorsed the changes.
He said Selangor MCA secretary and State Executive Councillor (Exco) Datuk Ch'ng Toh Eng had been appointed to replace Ong as the Selangor MCA chairman, while Pahang MCA secretary and State Exco Datuk Hoh Khai Mun was appointed as the new Pahang chairman.
"Hoh and Ch'ng were appointed in order for them to take more important tasks at the state level as they are already State Exco members. Moreover, they have good relationships with state leaders," he said.
Meanwhile, MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn was appointed as the new Malacca MCA chief, filling up the vacancy following the death of Datuk Wira Poh Ah Tiam.
Following the new appointment, Fong relinquished his post as Kelantan MCA chairman which was taken over by MCA treasurer-general Tan Sri Lau Yin Pin.
Lau's position as Terengganu state chairman was taken over by Senator Datuk Wong Foon Meng.
The other MCA leaders maintained their respective state chairmanships.
They are vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek (Johor), secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan (Perak), Datuk Tan Chai Hoo (Federal Territory), Datuk Oui Ah Lan (Perlis), Datuk Beh Heng Siong (Kedah) and Datuk Edward Khoo (Sabah).
Asked why the latest appointments departed from the normal practice of appointing either the party president, deputy president, vice-presidents or secretary-general as state chairman, Ong said "It depends on the suitability and timing."
He said as a state chairman, he had to do a lot of running around and this had taken up most of his time, and "by doing this rationalisation, it will help us to focus on our government positions."
Apart from Ong, who is the Housing and Local Government Minister, other MCA leaders holding government posts are Chan, who is Transport Minister, Fong the Human Resource Minister and Dr Chua the Health Minister.
The CC meeting today also appointed the Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka, Wong Nai Chee as its new member, taking over the vacant position left by Poh, who died of cancer in March.

tunku : what surprise changes as both of them still the mca chairman for penang and negeri sembilan.it is best that both the president and his depuy relinquished all their state chairmanship and concentrate on federal level.follow umno, the president and deputy is not holding the chairmanship of the state.