Mah: Speck of change for Teluk Intan, Gerakan

His win in the Teluk Intan parliamentary by-election would bring a speck of change not only for the constituency but also for the Gerakan party, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk Mah Siew Keong said.

The Gerakan president acknowledged that the contest was a close one but it proved that the BN could win when the component parties unite.

"For me, this is a speck of change for Gerakan. I am proud of the cooperation among the BN component parties that has led to this success," he said, when met by reporters after being declared the winner by Returning Officer Datuk Ibrahim Ahmad at the counting centre at SMK Abdul Rahman Talib here last night.

Mah obtained 20,157 votes to defeat DAP candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud by a majority of 238 votes. The latter received 19,919 votes.

He also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as well as Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir for their advice and guidance in the BN's bid for the seat.

Meanwhile, Dyana Sofya expressed her disappointment to about 200 of her supporters and Pakatan Rakyat members after the outcome, for failing to retain the seat for the DAP.

She said she would continue her struggle in the party and pledged not to disappoint her supporters.

"I will be here and will lend my time to the community here," said the political secretary to Gelang Patah member of parliament Lim Kit Siang, who is also DAP national adviser.

However she declined to meet the Press.