Wanita Gerakan chief Tan Lian Hoe has been picked as the candidate for the Jalong state seat in Perak's Sungai Siput federal constituency in the 14th general election (GE14).

Party president Mah Siew Keong said he placed full trust and confidence in Tan to recapture the seat won by DAP in GE13.

He said the Jalong state seat was a Gerakan seat although the party lost it (in GE13) with quite a large majority.

“Nevertheless, we have been serving Jalong over the last four years and she (Tan) has always worked hard to win back the hearts of voters in the area.

"We have the confidence to recapture the seat. Through the spirit and cooperation among BN component parties, I'm sure we have a bright chance and the seat will be BN's again," added Mah (photo), who is also plantation industries and commodities minister.

He was speaking to reporters after attending the Chinese New Year Celebration Open House organised by Perak Gerakan in Sungai Siput.

The event was also attended by Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir and 3,000 others.

Tan is a former Gerik and Bukit Gantang MP and had served as deputy information minister and deputy domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism minister.

In GE13, the Jalong seat was won by DAP’s Loh Sze Yee who defeated BN candidate Liew Yew Aw with a majority of 6,769 votes, while the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat is now held by Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj from PKR.

However, Lintang is represented by BN's Dzolkafly Harun, who won with a majority of 3,977 votes.

- Bernama