PH-BN passed first test as allies in state polls, says Azalina

 

Azalina Othman Said said the PH-BN alliance won 3.39 million votes of all votes cast, 17,000 votes ahead of Perikatan Nasional.

PETALING JAYA: The results of Saturday’s six state elections show that the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional alliance has passed its first test of working together despite decades as foes, says Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said.

She agreed with her Pakatan Harapan counterpart Fahmi Fadzil that the alliance had successfully thwarted the so-called “green wave” of seats won by Perikatan Nasional.

Azalina said the PH-BN alliance had won a combined total of 3.39 million (49.58%) of all votes cast, some 17,000 votes ahead of the 3.38 million votes (49.33%) gathered by PN.

She noted that the election success came despite the partners having worked together for only eight months since Anwar Ibrahim formed the unity government in November.

“Political differences were put aside in the name of unity,” she said.

The unity coalition retained power in Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. However, Umno performed badly in these state elections, where it won 19 seats out of 108 seats contested in six states.

PN also made headway in Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, picking up seats in those states while retaining control of Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

Azalina Othman Said.

Azalina said there was no need to resort to pointing fingers. Her call came amid appeals from within and outside Umno for party leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to step down.

She also urged the unity alliance to improve its efforts to explain the partnership between the two coalitions.

Political observers have said that Umno members have felt uneasy with the party’s alliance with DAP, a member of PH, which had been a bitter adversary for decades. Such uneasiness might have contributed to protest votes being cast in favour of PN, they said.

Azalina said the unity government must improve candidate selection, its joint manifesto, election machinery and campaign efforts before the next general election, which must be held by 2027.

“It would benefit both coalitions in making sure that a much solid understanding could be created in the near future,” she said. - FMT