KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 – Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has emerged as the new president of MCA, according to official results of today’s party election, putting an end to months of infighting with predecessor Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

According to the final vote count, Liow won by just 186 votes to defeat challenger Gan Ping Sieu, who polled 1,000 votes. Former president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat picked up 160 ballots from the delegates.

Dr Chua had opted not to defend his presidency.

Datuk Wee Ka Siong also saw off his competitor, Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai, by 481-vote majority to take the deputy presidency.

At a press conference after the results were announced, Liow said party unity will be a priority as he starts his term as the new MCA president.

He acknowledged that infighting has been a source of weakness for the party in the past, and pledged to break down the barriers separating the various factions in the party.

“I ask that all (members) come back to work together to strengthen MCA. We do not choose factions. The delegates gave us a clear signal that they want unity... the time has come for us to move towards party unity,” he said.

Liow, who held the deputy presidency prior to the party polls, also said the results vindicated him of previous criticism that he was weak and lacked the gumption to take the party forward.

“I have been elected by the delegates. Whatever the criticism, the delegates have made their choice,” he said.

Liow added that the newly-elected leadership will discuss the matter of Cabinet appointments for MCA leaders in their first central committee meeting after the party’s general assembly.

But he declined to say if he will push for an extraordinary general meeting to seek approval from the over 2,500 party delegates.

“We will discuss every possibility related to that... the new party leadership will decide (on whether to pursue the matter) and it will also have to go back to the delegates. We have our constitution, and we have to follow our constitution,” he said.

In an October EGM, delegates had rejected a motion for MCA to reverse its refusal of Cabinet posts as well as another to censure Liow over his role as the party’s election director during Election 2013.

Separately, Wee said the results of the party polls showed that the delegates went with their own choices and were not influenced by the “cai tan” or set list of names prepared by leaders.

“As far as I saw, it was a free-for-all. They did not take it (list) in total, they voted for whom they liked. The results show the wisdom of the delegates and that they have their own minds,” he said.

The 2,352 delegates who cast their votes today also elected four new vice-presidents: Datuk Lee Chee Leong, Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun and Datuk Chua Tee Yong, the son of Dr Chua.

The general assembly ends tomorrow, when delegates will a full day of debates on the presidential address by outgoing MCA President Dr Chua and various resolutions tabled.