KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA party election saw more than 65% voter turnout with some 32,000 divisional delegates making known their choice for the new leadership.

These delegates generated a total of 636 electoral votes to put in place a new leadership.

The polling ended in 188 divisions nationwide at 7pm yesterday.

Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the turnout indicated that the grassroots members were looking forward to a new leadership, adding: “The spirit of the delegates is very good.”

This election is crucial for MCA, which is in need of a new direction after it almost got wiped out in the 14th General Election, winning only one parliamentary seat and two out of 129 state seats contested.

Dr Wee, who won the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat, is MCA’s sole MP.

MCA holds party elections every three years, but the party constitution allowed it to defer its elections to focus on the general election.

Doing their part: MCA members casting their votes at the Kuala Langat division headquarters.

The last party elections were in December 2013.

Incumbent MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai did not seek re-election to take responsibility for the party’s worst defeat in its 69-year history.

Dr Wee was locked in a three-way fight for the presidency with Gan Ping Sieu and Ngoo Teck Keong.

The deputy president’s post is a direct fight between Datuk Tee Siew Kiong and Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.

Dr Wee and Dr Mah came to be known as the WeeMah team, while GanTee was a partnership between Ping Sieu and Siew Kiong.

Votes were still being counted as of 9pm.

-The Star-