KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 — Barisan Nasional’s (BN) success in wresting back the Teluk Intan parliamentary seat is an important indication that the confidence and support of the people for the BN is getting stronger, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said he believed voters in Teluk Intan had made a mature decision by evaluating the good performance and experience of the BN candidate, Datuk Mah Siew Keong, who was a former assemblyman for Pasir Bedamar and and former member of parliament for Teluk Intan.

“We thank god the voters in Teluk Intan have chosen the BN candidate, Mah, to be their representative again.

“We are grateful for this victory as it proves BN continues to have the support of the diverse communities in our country,” he said in a statement here today.

He also thanked and congratulated the voters of Teluk Intan for making the right choice and for rejecting politics of deceit and hatred.

Mah, 53, who is also president of Gerakan, obtained 20,157 votes defeating DAP’s Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, 27, who garnered 19,919 votes, with a 238 vote-majority in today’s by-election.

The decision was announced by Returning Officer Datuk Ibrahim Ahmad at the vote tallying centre, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Abdul Rahman Talib, Teluk Intan, at 9.41 pm.

Voter turn-out was 66.67 per cent with 40,236 out of the 60,349 registered voters casting their votes.

Muhyiddin, who congratulated Mah and the entire BN machinery, said although the vote-majority was small and required more work and continuous efforts, he believes it is the moment of awakening for Gerakan.

He said BN would fulfill all the promises that have been made and Mah would bring development, progress and prosperity to the state of Perak and Teluk Intan. — Bernama