Mah gives up Teluk Intan division chief’s post

IPOH: Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong (pic) has announced that he will not defend his Teluk Intan division chief post, one that he has been holding for over 20 years.

In a brief statement, Mah said it was time for him to pass the baton to a more deserving leader.

“I humbly announce that I will not seek re-election in the upcoming divisional-level party election.

“I hope the new leadership will continue to strengthen the party, improve their services and stay active in Teluk Intan,” he said.

Nonetheless, Mah said as a localborn, he would always be with the people even though he is not the division chief.

Mah said nomination for the Gerakan Teluk Intan division would take place on July 27, followed by voting on Aug 3.

Following his defeat in the May 9 general election, in which he lost his Teluk Intan parliamentary seat to DAP’s Nga Kor Ming, Mah had offered to resign as Gerakan president to take full responsibility for the party’s performance.

The party’s central committee then decided that Mah was to stay on as president until the party election.

On June 23, Gerakan announced its decision to pull out from Barisan Nasional.

Mah first contested the Teluk Intan parliamentary seat in 1999 and successfully defended it in 2004.

However, he lost in his next two outings to DAP in 2008 and 2013.

He snatched the seat back during a by-election in May 2014 following Seah Leong Peng’s death from cancer.