KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Sept 2008: Former MCA vice-president and party veteran Datuk Yap Pian Hon today announced he will be contesting the vice-president’s post in the party election on 18 Oct.
Yap, a former three-term vice-president from 1990 to 1999, will be making his third attempt to be re-elected as one of the four vice-presidents since 1999.
He failed in his effort to be elected as vice-president in the 1999 and 2005 party elections.
“I have undergone many challenges in my political career and all these I regard as an asset. Not easy to call it quits regardless of how difficult it can be.
“Hence, I have decided to offer myself again as a candidate to be vice-president,” he said in a statement.
Yap, who is also a former MCA Youth chairman and executive committee member of the Selangor government, has often been described as a “cat with nine lives” for his political tenacity. He was once detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) during Operasi Lallang in 1987.
Despite being elected three times as vice-president, Yap was never recommended for the position of a minister or deputy minister, unlike the other vice-presidents.
For the upcoming MCA election, Yap is the seventh candidate to announce he is vying for the vice-president’s post, after Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha, Youth Chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, Wanita Chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen and Johor exco Datuk Tan Kok Hon.
Vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn has announced he would defend his post. — Bernama
