ROMPIN Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong said BN candidate for the Rompin parliamentary by-election Hasan Arifin should not to take to the heart opposition jibes that he is a "recycled candidate."

As a person who was once labelled the same by the opposition in the the Teluk Intan parliamentary by-election May last year, Mah said what is important is the willingness to serve the community.

"And finally I won," Mah, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, told reporters when asked on his experience of being labeled a "recycled candidate" after attending a dialogue session with Rompin Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry members today.

Despite being ridiculed by the opposition, Mah, who was 53 years old then, managed  to beat young lawyer Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, 27, and win back the seat from DAP, who won the seat in the 2008 General Election.

Hasan, 62, who was Tioman and Bukit Ibam state assemblyman before, is facing a straight fight with Pahang PAS youth chief Nazri Ahmad, 40, in the May 5 by-election.

- Bernama