In the final results from the party elections last night, Ling, the Yong Peng assemblyman, obtained 130 votes to defeat MCA Youth secretary-general Wa Wai How, who won 58 votes, and Klang MCA Youth member Chan Kee Siang, who failed to secure any votes.

He will replace Nicole Wong, who is eyeing a vice-president’s post in the party’s central committee member elections.

In a straight fight for the MCA Wanita chief’s post, Wong garnered 281 votes to defeat Ooi Siew Kim, who obtained 98 votes.

Ling said he would focus on reuniting the youth wing, after acknowledging there was polarisation among members at the election.

He promised that there will be a transformation for the wing.

“We will sit down together with every state youth leader and see how we can transform the party. We will also sit down with other youth wings of Barisan Nasional component parties to see how we can further enhance our coalition,” he told FMT.

Earlier, MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon said he is aware of the political divide within the youth wings. He said there are two camps.

“I hope the new youth chief will reunite both camps, as we are all comrades after all,” he said after voting ended for the MCA Youth and Wanita MCA elections.

Elections to the central committee will be held tomorrow. A total of 48 candidates will be contesting for a place in the 25-member central committee.

Former MCA central committee member Tan Chong Seng will be going head to head with party president Wee Ka Siong for his post.