PERAK PKR vice-chairman Chang Lih Kang has won the Tanjung Malim seat in southern Perak, a former Barisan Nasional fortress with 10 Felda settlements.

He led state MCA chief and caretaker exco Dr Mah Hang Soon by 5,898 votes, with an estimated 3,733 votes left uncounted as at 9.54pm.

The seat, previously held by MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan, was one of the seats the BN component had been confident of retaining.

PKR polled 23,839 votes, BN (17,941) and PAS (9,700). Based on an unofficial tally, 990 votes were spoilt.

Chang, a two-term state assemblyman and former human rights activist, has worked the ground since 2016 to reach out to rural voters in one of Perak’s largest constituencies.

A ceramah featuring Pakatan Harapan top guns, including chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad and president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, at one of the Felda settlements in the constituency in March drew a 1,000-strong crowd.

“Ceramah kelompok” held by PH during the campaign period, including those at Felda settlements, have seen a solid turnout.

Caretaker deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s promises to make Dr Mah a cabinet minister, resolve long-standing issues faced by the Chinese community and bring Japanese investment to Sungkai had failed to gain traction.

Out of the 68,468 voters in Tanjung Malim, 55.6% are Malays, Chinese (25.6%), Indians (13%) and Orang Asli (5.3%).

Almost half of the Malay voters are Felda settlers. – May 9, 2018.