TELUK INTAN BN candidate Mah Siew Keong has launched his manifesto for the Teluk Intan by-election, promising, among others, to try to get the town's famous leaning tower listed as a Unesco world heritage site.

The manifesto, as expected, focused wholly on local development issues, including establishing an university in Teluk Intan.

Mah, 53, is Teluk Intan born and has served the area previously as a one-term assemblyperson and two-term MP.

His opponent in the by-election to be held on Saturday, DAP's Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud ( right ), is due to release her manifesto tomorrow.

Mah also pledged to establish Teluk Intan as "agro-hub" to further capitalise on its agriculture commodities.

 

In his press conference to launch his manifesto, Mah stressed that he was successful in solving an irrigation problem that was plaguing Teluk Intan for decades before he became MP in 1999.

 

"The floods were the biggest problem here. Now, go around and ask the people if they are facing this anymore. We managed to get RM30 million in funds and minimised the problem by at least 80 percent," he said.

 

Mah also made a plea to "some parties" not to belittle the inclusion of subjects like irrigation, and street lighting in his manifesto.

 

"Some people might find it trivial – that's because they don't understand Teluk Intan and its needs. But, look at the villages, streetlights are important. There are many people here without basic amenities," he pointed out.

 

Mah also explained that he cannot be accused of failing to speak up on national issues.

 

"I have been the president of Gerakan for the past seven months, and I have consistently spoken about national issues. I am against ISA for example. Many statements have been made.

"It's just that for Teluk Intan, I thought we would focus on local issues," he said.

 

Among the other major highlights of the manifesto:

 

1. Develop the riverside to turn it into a tourist spot.

 

2. Build a sports stadium, and a sports complex.

 

3. More WiFi hotspot zones.

 

4. Upgrade the community college in Teluk Intan to accommodate more students.

 

Mah stressed that he was still the underdog in the by-election.

 

"The Pakatan heavyweights have come down and doing ceramah every night," he said.

 

"Plus, they have been on a whispering campaign and we have to take a lot of our time to explain things to the people," he added.

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