KUALA LUMPUR: He may have failed to capture the last berth in the tight election race for the MCA central committee, but he takes it in stride.

Datuk Boey Chin Gan (pic) ended in 26th place out of 54 candidates who went for the 25 central committee member seats in the MCA elections on Sunday (Nov 4).

"I am okay," said Boey, who got 309 electoral votes, missing out on the last commitee seat to Daniel Ling Sia Chin, who polled 315 votes.

The two caused a suspense when their votes were tied at 305 electoral votes as vote tabulation was nearing the end on Sunday.

The MCA elections saw 32,000 divisional delegates nationwide generating 636 electoral votes to decide the party's central leadership for the next three years.

Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong was elected the president and Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon the deputy president.

The four vice-presidents elected were: Datuk Lim Ban Hong, Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker and Datuk Seri Yew Teong Look.

Boey, 53, said he was glad that the new leadership was in place to continue the party's struggle.

He said he was confident in Dr Wee's leadership, the party's sole Member of Parliament, describing him as articulate, sharp in thinking and someone who knows his facts well.

He observed that many among the 25 central committee members were below 40, adding it was a good sign that the young were keen to serve the party.

But he said it was also important to include middle-aged leaders for their experience.

MCA was almost wiped out in GE14, winning one parliamentary seat and two state seats out of the 129 (parliamentary and state) seats contested.

The elections also saw Barisan Nasional, of which MCA is a part of, lose federal power for the first time since Independence in 1957.

Sabah MCA leader Datuk Chew Kok Woh who ranked fourth among the 25 central committee members, described his win as a heavy responsibility, including making MCA an efficient opposition in the state.

Equally important, he said, was supporting the party' top two leaders rebuild the party and regain the people's support.

"We must get down to serious work to revitalise our party. It is not simple but we have to do it," said Chew.