Mohd Khalid Atan has been elected the new Malaysian Trades Union Congress president, defeating the incumbent Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud.

mtuc elections 2010 khalid atan press conference Khalid ( centre ), who was Syed Shahir's former deputy, polled 255 votes, beating Syed Shahir’s 213 votes.

Meanwhile, Khalid’s running mate Abdul Halim Mansur clinched the secretary-general’s post, beating Syed Shahir’s running mate Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid and wildcard J Solomon of the National Union of Bank Employees.

Abdul Halim polled 188, while Abdullah Sani and Solomon polled 165 and 117 votes respectively. A total of 479 ballots were cast during the elections today.

mtuc elections 2010 crowd Both Syed Shahir and Abdullah Sani are members of PKR. Syed Shahir is a PKR supreme council member while Abdullah Sani is the Kuala Langat MP.

Syed Shahir is a two-term president who has been criticised by rivals for bringing opposition influence into MTUC, resulting in it being shunned by the federal government.

Khalid Atan and Abdul Halim were backed by G Rajasekaran, the former MTUC secretary-general and veteran unionist. 

Victors thank 'mentor'

In his acceptance speech later, Khalid urged members to cease all ill-will and ill-feelings against individuals in the union, as this could hurt the organisation.

He and Abdul Halim also thanked Rajasekaran openly, referring to him as their mentor and said they would follow the path he had set in running the organisation.

In his acceptance speech, Abdul Halim acknowledged that there was factionalism in MTUC but said that the current line-up showed the members' choice on how things should be run.

"This line-up is truly from the workers and for the workers," he said.

mtuc elections 2010 syed shahir defeated Met after results were announced, Syed Shahir said he was not upset over his loss.

"No, no, no... I am not upset over the results, that I am still here, talking to you, is proof enough,” he said.

He assured his supporters and members of the public that he would continue to contribute to the MTUC.

"This is in my blood. I have been doing this for the last 40 years."

However, Syed Shahir refused to say if he would run again in the next MTUC election.

"I cannot answer that now, I have to consider it first, maybe sleep on it," he said.

VIDEO | 9.09 mins