KUALA LUMPUR: Despite the stigma of a sex scandal, Malaysia's former health minister Chua Soi Lek made a surprising comeback when he won the deputy president's post in the Malaysian Chinese Association.

He managed a narrow 114-vote majority in party polls on Saturday over Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Chuan, the brother of outgoing president Ong Ka Ting.

It was even more surprising as Datuk Seri Chua was perceived as being against the newly-elected president, Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat. 'People voted according to what is best for the party,' Dr Chua said.

For more The Straits Times stories, click here.