By Yip Yoke Teng and Rachel Kam

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Businessman Tan Yew Sing from Selangor will be up against Pahang tycoon Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah in the contest for the presidency of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong) on Sept 27.

Tan, the chief executive officer of Inti Education Group, is now president of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall while Pheng, the Kinsteel Bhd and Perwaja Holdings Bhd managing director, has been president of the Pahang Chinese Assembly Hall since 1991.

Nomination closed at noon on Sept 17. The results of the election, which will be held at the Penang Chinese Assembly Hall, is expected to be known after 3pm.

Tan said he would lobby hard for the materialisation of Hua Zong's 20-year action plan for Malaysia, adding that he would also push for the formation of a think tank comprising experts in various fields, languages and ethnic groups.

Pheng could not be reached for comments at press time.

Vying for the deputy president post are Cheng Lai Hock from Perak and Lim Kah Chuan from Johor.

Six candidates who won the vice-president posts unopposed are Foo Chih Wan (Terengganu), Lau Chee Boon (Negri Sembilan), Chan Swee Yen (Malacca), Chin Yoke Meng (Perlis), Tan Ken Ten (Kelantan) and Sarawak representative Soo Mei Kong.

Twenty-six candidates were nominated for the 21-member central committee.

Meanwhile, Hii Yik Ping from Sarawak won the youth section presidency unopposed while 15 candidates won the central committee member posts, also unopposed.

In the women's section, incumbent president Ooi Siew Kim, who is Penang Wanita MCA chief, will be contesting against Datuk Agnes Shim Tshin Nyuk from Sabah.

The election is being watched closely as the new line-up is expected to shape the future of the federation that groups 7,000 Chinese guilds and associations through 13 state Chinese Assembly Halls nationwide.

--The Star/ANN