‘Underdog’ PN will fight all the way in Mahkota, says Wan Fayhsal

 

A Bersatu leader says PN has previously faced tough competition from BN and PH for the Johor state assembly seat of Mahkota. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

A Bersatu leader has conceded that Perikatan Nasional is the underdog in the Mahkota by-election later this month but says the coalition is not conceding defeat and will fight to the end.

The by-election will be crucial in showing whether Johor’s Malay voters are comfortable with DAP’s presence in the government, said Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal . 

On paper, we know that Mahkota is not an easy seat. In the previous state and general elections, PN faced tough competition from Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional. We are indeed entering Mahkota as the underdog, but that doesn’t mean we will admit defeat. We will fight and do our best,

 he told FMT.

We hope the Mahkota voters make a wise decision,

 he said. 

The vote in Mahkota is not just about choosing an assemblyman, but it also sends a signal to the federal government on whether Johor Malays can align with DAP,

 he said.

Yesterday, PAS central committee member Annuar Musa suggested that PN faces a tough challenge in the by-election, predicting that BN could win with a large majority of more than 20,000 votes.

Annuar said this projection is based on the results of the 2022 Johor elections in which BN and PH (then rivals) obtained a combined total of 28,000 votes, while PN garnered only about 7,000 votes.

BN and PH have since become partners in the unity federal coalition.

BN is fielding Kluang Umno Youth chief Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah in the by-election for the Johor state assembly seat, previously held by Kluang Wanita Umno chief Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain. She died at the age of 63 on Aug 2.

The Election Commission has set the nomination day for Sept 14, with early voting on Sept 24.

The Mahkota constituency comprises 66,318 voters, with Malays making up 56%, Chinese 34%, Indians 8%, and others 2%. - FMT