Teluk Intan by-election: It's Mah vs Dyana Sofya

TELUK INTAN: It will be a straight fight between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat for the  parliamentary seat by-election here.

Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong will face off against DAP's Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, the political secretary of Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang in the by-election, which will be held on May 31. 

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had rated the fight to be a 50-50 battle.

He said the outcome of the polls would depend on the two-week campaign period and that Barisan Nasional was more than ready to do down to the ground to meet the people to garner their support.

"The by-election machinery will explain and clarify all issues raised by the people and the Opposition.

Mah, who is accompanied by Muhyiddin and Zahid, make their way to the nomination centre on Monday.

"We hope the 60,000 voters here would give their support to Mah, based on his local knowledge and experience as a former wakil rakyat and former deputy minister,"  Muhyiddin said after the nomination at SMK Seri Perak on Monday.

"He will do his best job well for the community and country, and we know the people wants development here," he added.

On whether Dyana Sofya's mother, who is an Umno member, would tip the scale of the contest, Muhyiddin said the people here would judge the candidates, based on their capabilities.

Earlier, both candidates  submitted their nomination forms as soon as nominations opened in SMK Seri Perak.

Mah was the first to submit his nomination form, flanked by his proposer, state MCA treasurer-general Datuk Seri Kuan Peng Soon and seconded by Changkat Jong assemblyman Datuk Mohd Azhar Jamaluddin at 9.03am.

Dyana waves as she arrived at the nomination centre on Monday.

Dyana Sofya followed suit at 9.05am, accompanied by her proposer and seconder, Teluk Intan party division members Chang Kok Lim and Pooi Weng Keong respectively.

Mah said he had met Dyana during the nomination and asked for a fair fight with no political assassination involved.

"I have told her to have a good campaign and not to use personal attacks against each other.

"I also hoped they won't twist facts about what is happening here as I've been here for a long time," he said, adding that it was not in Barisan's culture to launch any personal attacks.

"I've also discussed with her the developments needed here and the people here needed assistance," he added.

Barisan supporters calling for support at SMK Seri Perak in Teluk Intan on Monday.

Dyana Sofya said her candidacy was to continue the legacy left by former MP, Seah Leong Peng, who passed away due to cancer earlier this month.

"As a young candidate, I will face off against an experienced and well-respected figure," she said.

"For me, this a challenge I cannot back out from," she added.

In the last election in May, 2013, DAP retained the seat after Seah beat Mah and independent candidate K. Moralingam with a 7,313 majority.

Of the more than 60,000 voters in the constituency, 41% are Chinese, 38% Malay and 19% Indian.