The Teluk Intan by-election results may have shown a swing in Chinese votes to BN, but it is not due to strong leadership in MCA, says its former president.

Dr Chua Soi Lek (left) said that instead, it was factors like Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong's continued service in his hometown and poor turnout that put Mah ahead of DAP newbie Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud by 238 votes.

As such, he said, it is “laughable” to say that the win was due to MCA president Liow Tiong Lai's leadership or that it is sign that the Chinese are returning to the BN.

“Hence if it laughable for some MCA leaders to claim in their eagerness to...polish the president's shoe that the win is because of (Liow's) leadership.

“One must not forget (that) less than two weeks ago, the same group of leaders...were the decision makers who allowed DAP's walkover in the Bukit Gelugor by-election,” he scathingly said.

In a statement, Chua said that other factors include DAP's assumption that the Chinese would back it regardless of candidate.

He said the hudud issue as well as the promise that Mah would be made cabinet minister also gave Mah that extra edge.

'Too soon to gloat'

These, he said, indicate that the win may just be a “flash in the pan” as far as return of Chinese votes to BN is concerned.

“I will not be gloating that Chinese support is back to BN,” he said.

Liow had said that the victory shows that the Chinese now have renewed hope in the BN.

"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 had said.