MCA Youth gets first female chief
Nicole Wong beats Ng Kian Nam in straight fight
KUALA LUMPUR: Nicole Wong Siaw Ting has made history, becoming the first female MCA Youth chairman.
The 38-year-old won 136 electoral votes to beat Ng Kian Nam who garnered 82 electoral votes in a straight fight yesterday.
The voter turnout was 40%.
It was a clear victory after votes from the 149 divisions had been tabulated.
Wong, a mother of three, is the 14th MCA Youth chairman.
Her predecessors include three former MCA presidents – Tan Sri Lee San Choon, Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat and Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
Wong’s immediate predecessor is Datuk Chong Sin Woon who did not defend his post.
The Youth opened its membership to females in 2013.
Wong contested and won one of the four vice-chairman’s post in the same year.
A total of 47 candidates fought for the 31 posts – chairman, deputy chairman, four vice-chairmen and 25 central committee members.
For the deputy chairman’s post, Tan Chee Hiong won 146 electoral votes to beat Kang Choo Nge who bagged 72.
Wong, 38, felt the low turnout of voters was a “lack of awareness” among the delegates.
But she was glad that the voting, which used a new formula for the first time, was completed successfully.
Ng, 39, described the low turnout as “disappointing but expected”.
Apart from the new formula, he said the turnout rate also reflected a low level of motivation on the ground.
“This reinforced the need to reform and rebuild the party,” he said, adding that it was important to nurture loyal members who could take part in party affairs.
It is learnt that some 2,000 of the 8,337 delegates were not contactable.
Apparently, they did not list their mobile phone numbers.