TANAH RATA: "My priority right now is to give the best service to the folks in Cameron Highlands," said newly elected Cameron Highlands Member of Parliament Ramli Mohd Nor of Barisan Nasional (BN).
After the people in Cameron Highlands fulfilled their duties of voting-in a new parliamentary representative yesterday, Ramli said it is now time for him to get to work.
"The work has started and now I have some 30,000 'bosses' (voters) that I must serve.
"I want to see what their problems are and solve these issues, be it public facilities, public transportation, traffic woes and economic development," he told reporters after a walkabout at the morning market, here, today.
This is Ramli's first visit after he was officially named as Cameron Highlands MP last night.
Asked about support from the Chinese community for him in the by-election which took place yesterday, Ramli said it was not an issue as he was already chosen by the people to represent them in Parliament.
"As a parliamentarian, I must serve all whether or not they voted for me.
"I can't say much about this, but as an elected MP, my main responsibility is to give my best no matter who they are," he said.
The by-election yesterday saw Ramli winning by a 3,238 vote-majority, defeating Pakatan Harapan's (PH) M. Manogaran and two Independent candidates; Sallehudin Ab Talib and Wong Seng Yee.
Manogaran failed in his third bid to become Cameron Highlands MP, having polled 8,800 votes against Ramli's 12,038.
Sallehudin and Wong polled 314 and 276 votes, respectively, losing their deposits.
The voter turnout yesterday was the highest of all the by-elections held after the 14th general election so far, at 68.79 per cent.
Ramli also made history, becoming the first from the Orang Asli community to be elected to the Dewan Rakyat.
