KUALA LUMPUR: It has been understood that MCA Youth has so far reached an agreement on the posts of chairmen in four states, meaning that the chairman posts will not be contested in these four states on the nomination day 2 September.

The four leaders who have secured the chairman posts through consultation are Pahang state vice chairman Wong Yoke Loong, Sabah deputy state chairman Yong Chen Leong, Asah (NS) divisional chairman Wong Kim Long, and outgoing Kuala Terengganu divisional chairman Toh Seng Cheng.

It has been learned that agreements have also been reached on other posts in Terengganu, Pahang and Sabah, besides the chairman posts.

It has also been understood that with less than a week to go before the elections, many state liaison committees have yet to reach a consensus on the committee posts. However, to continue with the tradition of no contests for major posts in the party, some state liaison committees have rushed against time in last rounds of negotiations this week in order to reduce the crossfire to a minimum.

Due to the upper age limit of 45, nine state liaison committee chairmen will have to step down, while the remaining four chairmen have expressed their intentions not to seek re-election. In other words, all 13 state liaison committees will see new faces of their chairmen come 6 September.

Judging from the current situation, states which may see three-cornered or even multi-cornered fights for the chairman posts include Kedah, Johor, Federal Territory, Melaka and Penang. However, this situation may change over the next few days.

According to MCA Youth state liaison committee traditions, state divisions will meet to discuss the state liaison committee posts after the divisional elections, in a bid to tame down the competition. (Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)