6 by-election victories prove BN still relevant, says Zahid

BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) and Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail during a walkabout in Pekan to support BN candidate Mohd Sharim Md Zain in the Chini by-election. (Bernama pic)

PEKAN: Six victories in by-elections, including for the Chini state seat last night, have proven that Barisan Nasional (BN) is still relevant and accepted by the people.

BN chairman and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this put paid to all the talk that the BN symbol was no longer accepted by the public.

“I am convinced that these six by-elections (after the 14th general election) are evidence that BN is not only still relevant but also has a bright future if the component parties and friends in Umno and Muafakat Nasional give their support to ensure success in the next general election.

“In addition, we are now part of Perikatan Nasional,” he told reporters after BN candidate Mohd Sharim Md Zain was declared the winner of the Chini by-election, adding that voters in Chini want “continuity of BN services”.

Before this, BN had won the by-elections in the parliamentary seats of Cameron Highlands. Tanjung Piai and Kimanis and the Semenyih and Rantau state seats.

Pekan MP and Umno division head Najib Razak said Muafakat Nasional was not complacent even though Sharim was competing against two independent candidates.

He said the support for BN and Muafakat Nasional had been “so strong that the two independent candidates lost their deposits”.

“I consider this a victory for the voters in Chini as they want a people’s representative who can serve them and continue development in the area,” he said.

Sharim, 41, won with a 12,650-vote majority after he polled 13,872 votes against 1,222 obtained by Tengku Zainul Hisham Hussin, and 137 by Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli. - FMT