MCA president Liow Tiong Lai says the swing of Chinese votes to BN in the Teluk Intan by-election showed the community's new hope in the ruling coalition.

He added the results which saw Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong wresting the seat from DAP is a testament of the people's support for BN's management of the government.

"In this by-election, we have seen a return of the Chinese votes to BN, signalling that the Chinese community has renewed its hopes in BN.

"The increase in support from this multiracial constituency can be taken as a vote of confidence towards BN’s good governance," Liow (left) said in a statement today.

He said Mah's win was also assisted by other BN component parties including MCA, which mobilised its grassroots in support of Gerakan.

Congratulating Mah, Liow said MCA will work hard to ensure that Chinese support continue to flow back to BN.

Separately, MIC president G Palanivel claimed the by-election results shows that Indian Malaysian support has returned to BN compared to the results of the two previous general elections, which he says is proof of confidence in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s leadership.

He said BN had won in six Indian-majority polling districts in Teluk Intan, whereas the coalition had previously lost all of it to the opposition.

“BN’s success in Teluk Intan has brought hope, confidence, and motivation for all of us in BN after working hard to ensure a BN victory,” he said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, Bernama also quoted Palanivel (left) claiming that Indian support in the constituency has risen to 70 percent, from 45 percent in the 13th general election.

DAP in its analysis had conceded that its Chinese support had fallen from 85 percent to 75 percent while its Indian support fell from 62 percent to 52 percent.

However, the party managed to gain marginal increase of support from the Malay community, garnering 28 percent of support as compared to 25 percent in 2013.

'BN on right track'

Thanking the Chinese community for its support, Liow said BN was on the right track.

"Therefore, it is necessary for BN to strengthen its ties with the people and to ensure that equal opportunities in all fields are enjoyed by all citizens and ensure that sustainable development continues," he said.

Yesterday, Mah (above) who was MP for Teluk Intan from 1999 to 2008 before being defeated twice in a row, succeeded in recapturing the seat.

He defeated DAP's Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud by a razor thin 238 vote-majority.

The trend in Teluk Intan, vis-a-vis Chinese votes follows that of the Kajang by-election in March.

PKR's Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail won Kajang, but there was a noticeable swing of Chinese votes from Pakatan Rakyat to BN, who fielded MCA vice president Chew Mei Fun.