Newly elected MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek has pledged to bring an inclusive leadership and even offered an olive branch to his two rivals.

NONE "There will be support from all parties to move forward inclusively and collectively. We will listen to the grassroots. Our work begins today.

"We must thank our previous presidents Ong Tee Keat and Ong Ka Ting. I hope they will use their vast experience to advise us," he told reporters, moments after election results were announced.

NONE Chua ( above ) narrowly edged Ka Ting to clinch the presidency.

Incumbent Tee Keat only managed to garner a fifth of the 2,315 votes casted by party delegates.

Halfway through the packed press conference, Chua's newly-elected deputy Liow Tiong Lai ( left ) showed up and gave a short speech to congratulate the new president and leadership.

Back to normal for Ka Ting

Also present were newly elected vice-president Ng Yen Yen, Gan Ping Sieu, Chor Chee Heung, Donald Lim and Youth chief Wee Ka Siong.

NONE Conspicuously missing was Wanita chief Chew Mei Fun ( far right ). Chew had previously vowed to quit her party post should Chua win the presidency.

Met after the results were announced, Chew said she would make an announcement on April 2 after chairing the Wanita central committee meeting.

"I don't want to spoil the happy occasion we have now," said Chew, while forcing a smile.

Also speaking after the results, Ka Ting ( above, far left ) said he respected the decision of the central delegates and accepted defeat. He hoped party members would share the same sentiment.

"I will go back to the life (of retirement as MCA president) that I have adjusted myself to. I will also continue my service as an MP," said Ka Ting.

Tee Keat: No let up with PKFZ

Meanwhile, Tee Keat told reporters that he felt at peace and said he was not surprised with the results.

NONE Soon after, Tee Keat ( left ) again showed his combative streak and vowed to continue pressuring the authorities to act on the Port Klang Free Zone scandal.

"As long I'm still MP... I will not give up (on PKFZ)," said Tee Keat, who initiated the probe on the multi-billion dollar loss making project as soon as he was appointed transport minister in 2008.

Asked if it was actually possible for him to continue pursuing the PKFZ scandal without a powerful party position, Tee Keat replied: "That has no direct correlation whatsoever".

He was also non-committal when asked on whether he intends to make a comeback in the next party polls scheduled for next year.

"We should resolve the problems in front of us first," he said.

NONE In a blog posting uploaded in the wake of his defeat, Tee Keat, who was the shortest term MCA president, said he had done what he felt was “right and good” for the party over the past 17 months.

“I had administered some painful, but necessary ‘medicine’ to turn the party around following the setbacks of the March 8 general elections. There were a lot of resistance and even efforts to derail the transformation agenda.

 

“Be it as it may, I am sure the new leadership realises that MCA needs to put the infighting behind them now and start reaching out to the people and become a political party that the community can relate to. On my part, I will wholeheartedly back such efforts.”

 

He said he will continue to serve as MP for his Pandan constituency in Selangor.

 

Additional reporting by Lee Way Loon, Wong Teck Chi and Kuek Ser Kuang Keng.