KUALA LUMPUR — Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have responded jubilantly to their victory in the Semenyih by-election, as Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders gracefully conceded defeat.
From the BN command centre with other party leaders, Umno Youth chief Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki thanked Semenyih constituents after BN wrested the Selangor state seat from PH in a race that PAS sat out to make way for BN.
“God be praised, we have won the by-election for the state assembly seat. This is a victory for the rakyat!” he said.
Dr Asyraf Wajdi@drasyrafwajdiBerada di Command Centre BN bersama pimpinan tertinggi BN. Alhamdulillah, keputusan tidak rasmi BN MENANG dalam PRK DUN Semenyih. Terima kasih seluruh pengundi Semenyih#BN4Semenyih
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Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman tweeted his congratulations to BN.
“To the residents of Semenyih I humbly apologise if there were any shortcomings. Thank you to the Harapan machinery who did not know the meaning of tiredness. This family will continue to move forward in introspection,” he said.
Syed Saddiq@SyedSaddiq
Tahniah Barisan Nasional di atas kemenangan di Semenyih.Kepada penduduk Semenyih saya susun sepuluh jari memohon maaf kalau ada yang terkurang.Terima kasih kepada jentera HARAPAN yang tidak kenal erti penat. Keluarga ini akan terus langkah ke hadapan sambil bermuhasabah.
Wanita Umno chief Datuk Noraini Ahmad said BN’s victory clearly indicated Muslim support for Umno’s alliance with PAS.
“Besides that, BN’s victory in Semenyih can be considered a referendum on the people’s protest against Pakatan Harapan (PH) for failing to fulfill their promises,” she said in a statement.
MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong extended his congratulations to the new Semenyih assemblyman Zakaria Hanafi.
“He has been given the mandate by the rakyat, in winning the seat. This will strengthen the Opposition in the state assembly. YB Zakaria will shoulder his responsibilities as ADUN as well as to provide a check and balance in Selangor,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
Wee also took a swipe at Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, saying he should have listened more closely to the rakyat’s woes and viewed seriously the issues surrounding the economy and daily living.
“The government should work tirelessly to boost the national economic growth so that its benefits can be felt by the rakyat, instead of constantly attempting to attract or invite Opposition parliamentarians to join Bersatu or PH,” the Ayer Hitam MP said.
Election Commission (EC) returning officer Datuk Mohd Sayuthi Bakar announced Zakaria’s victory with a majority of 1,914 votes as he had obtained 19,780 votes, over PH candidate from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) Muhammad Aiman Zainali who won 17,866 votes.
Independent candidate Kuan Chee Heng obtained 725 votes, while Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s (PSM) Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul secured 847 votes.
Voter turnout was reported at 73.24 per cent, the highest of all by-elections since the 14th general election.
BN’s victory was a stunning reversal of PH’s majority of almost 9,000 votes in the 14th general election that saw both parties running against PAS and PSM. – MALAY MAIL
Mat Hasan credits Semenyih win to Najib’s ‘aura’
“They said the true test of BN’s resolve would be here in Semenyih as in Cameron Highlands, it was a BN seat in a BN-run state,” Mohamad told reporters after the winners were announced.
“While everyone played their part for this win, it could not have been possible without the presence and aura of Datuk Seri Najib Razak.”
Former prime minister Najib had made several appearances these past two weeks in Semenyih with his “Bossku” persona. It reportedly galvanised the Malays in the area, giving new life to the BN machinery and PAS whom Mohamad said had been hammered by the press in the lead-up to voting day.
In the 14th general election, incumbent Bakhtiar Mohd Nor, whose demise in January precipitated the by-election, obtained 23,428 votes to defeat BN’s Datuk Johan Abd Aziz (14,464); Mad Shahmidur Mat Kosim of PAS (6,966); and Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s (PSM) S. Arutchelvan (1,293) in a four-cornered fight.
This time, PAS decided to throw their support behind BN by sitting out the race. Mohamad said with their combined power, this will lead the way for them to champion Malay and Muslim rights.
“Our combined strength can create a new political landscape in Malaysia as we are the two biggest Malay parties in Malaysia,” said Mohamad.
“We will bring the people’s voice into Parliament and be a strong opposition for the government.”
Mohamad, or better known as Tok Mat, will be facing his own by-election in Rantau soon. When asked how he will approach it, he said: “Well, I don’t have a crystal ball but it’s like playing checkers.
“They’ve got four of our pieces while we have two. Hopefully we can win another one in Rantau,” said the former mentri besar of Negri Sembilan.
“PAS got vilified incessantly in the lead up to these by-elections while Umno was not in the limelight as much. So who knows which party will get bad press in Rantau.
“Either way with the cooperation of PAS and BN, God willing we will come out with a good result.”
A total of 39,160 votes were cast. BN garnered 19,755 votes to PH’s 17,844 while PSM’s Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul and independent candidate Kuan Chee Keong got 858 and 703 votes.
Voter turnout was reported at 73.24 per cent, the highest of all by-elections since the 14th general election. – MALAY MAIL
MALAY MAIL
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