MCA veep Gan Ping Sieu to run for party presidency

MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu has confirmed his decision to vie for the post of MCA president in the party polls next month.

His announcement on Tuesday brings to three the number of people eyeing the presidency.

The other two are deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and former party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

Making the announcement at Wisma MCA here, Gan said he had charted out a roadmap to bring MCA out of its current predicament.

"After 505 (general election on May 5), I feel it's time that I offer my leadership in this coming (party) election based on new politics of idealogue (idealogy), based on the core values of MCA," he told reporters.

"My political discourse may be different from others. I believe in going back to the core values of the party, and my pursuit is putting emphasis on politics of idealogue (idealogy) rather than (being) entrapped in the old

poltical discourse," he said.

Gan, 47, appeared optimistic about his chances and brushed aside suggestions that he was the underdog when pitted against Liow and Ong.

Liow had served as Health minister while Ong was a former Transport minister. Both were also former MCA youth chiefs and vice-presidents.

"I shouldn't think I'm handicapped just because I'm relatively junior in politics," said Gan, adding that his 20 years in politics, especially in the past five years at the national level, had given him good exposure on leadership skills.

He was appointed senator and deputy Youth and Sports minister from 2010 to May 2013. He did not contest in the last general election.

Gan is also seen as a proxy to party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

To a question, he denied having been instructed to contest the post and added that the president was "fully aware" of his move.

He argued that it was now time for the party to do away with politics of personality and factional politics which he said had been bogging down the party for a long time.

Gan is expected to reveal his manifesto soon.

Nomination for the party polls is on Dec 16 while the election is scheduled for Dec 21.