Umno declares victory in Pelangai, with smaller majority

 

Barisan Nasional candidate Amizar Abu Adam of Umno has won the Pelangai by-election, according to Umno. (UMNO pic)

PETALING JAYA: Umno has declared victory for Barisan Nasional in the race for the Pelangai state seat after its candidate, Amizar Abu Adam, secured a 2,949-vote majority in a three-cornered fight according to unofficial results.

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said Amizar had triumphed over his challengers by a big margin. The other candidates are Kasim Samat of Perikatan Nasional and independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli.

Official results are yet to be released by the Election Commission. Pelangai has some 16,456 eligible voters, including 36 police personnel and three overseas absentee voters.

The seat fell vacant following the death of Johari Harun in the Elmina plane crash in August. He had won the seat in the November 2022 general election with a majority of 4,048 votes .

Tonight’s win sees BN maintaining its 17 seats in the 42-seat state assembly. Pelangai has been held by BN since 1986. The BN victory had been expected, but some political observers had wondered whether PN’s momentum at recent elections could carry it to an upset.

BN’s performance at the polls have underwhelmed of late, with the once-dominant bloc disappointing at the 15th general election last year and six state polls in August.

However, today’s result is the third for the unity government coalition after last month’s by-elections in Pulai and Simpang Jeram. - FMT