In the 1995 Malaysian general election, Ah Lek defeated Democratic Action Party (Malaysia) candidate, Syed Ali Mohsin at P83 Bentong, Pahang.
At that time MCA President Tan Koon Swan was imprisoned in Singapore following the Pan El scandal.
After Geng 8, Geng 10 was formed comprising Johor MCA Youth chief Hoo Seong Chan; Datuk Chong Toh Eng (Selangor), Lau Chek Tuan (Penang), Senator Yew Teong Look (Federal Territory), Datuk Soon Tian Szu (Melaka), Yip Chee Kiong (Negeri Sembilan), Tan Ken Ten (Kelantan), Toh Chin Yau (Terengganu) and Chew Kok Who (Sabah).
[clarification needed] All this is due to the intervention / peace plan proposed by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to have no MCA election in 2002.
In 2004, Lim Ah Lek[1] and Ling Liong Sik voluntarily retreated from MCA politics and were replaced by Ong Ka Ting and Tan Chan Kong Choy.