KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) -- Status quo is maintained in three by-elections today, with Barisan Nasional (BN) and opposition PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) maintaining the respective seats they won in the March 2008 general election.The ruling BN won the Batang Ai state constituency in Sarawak after its candidate Malcom Mussen Lamoh beat PKR's Jawah Gerang, and retained the Sarawak interior seat for the BN in convincing fashion.
The BN man polled 3,907 votes against Jawah's 2,053 in the battle for the Iban heartland. There were 59 spoilt votes.
Malcom's 1,854-vote majority is more than double the 806-vote margin recorded by BN's Datuk Dublin Unting Inkot in last year's general election. Unting died on Feb 24 this year, paving way for the by-election.
Analysts said the victory proved that it was difficult for Peninsular Malaysia-based opposition parties to make inroads in east Malaysia.
The result, they said, reinforced the fact that voters in the interior of Sarawak are still with the BN and are unlikely to abandon their allegiance in the near future.
"This is because the BN delivers on the promise of development. So why change when you are enjoying the benefit?" said a BN component party.
In Bukit Selambau in Kedah, PKR's S. Manikumar beat BN's Datuk S. Ganeson in the by-election which would go down in the record book for having the most number of candidates -- 15 altogether, including 13 independents.
Manikumar polled 12,632 votes as opposed to Ganesan's 10,229 votes to win the seat by a 2,403-vote majority.
There is a slight increase in the majority for the seat in this by-election, compared to the 2,362-vote majority obtained by PKR candidate V. Arumugam in the 2008 general election.
The seat fell vacant after Arumugam resigned on Feb 8, 2009, citing personal problem as among the reasons.
For the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat in Perak, PAS candidate Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, the former Menteri Besar, defeated BN's Ismail Saffian.Nizar polled 21,860 votes against Ismail's 19,071 votes.
The PAS leader obtained a 2,789-vote majority, much higher than the 1,566-vote majority obtained by the party's candidate, Roslan Shaharum, in the 2008 general election.
Roslan died on Feb 9, 2009 due to a heart complication, paving the way for the by-election.
Political analysts and observers said the results in the three by-elections showed two sides of the political situation in the country -- one being the fact that the BN would still need time to win back the hearts of minds of the people in the two northern states in the aftermath of the 12th general election.
"The new leadership now has to prove that it is sincere and has the welfare of the people at heart," said a component party leader, who declined to be named.
Observers also pointed out that the appearance of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang a day before the polling might have come a little too late.
The second aspect, the said, was that opposition parties wanting badly to make a headway in Sarawak failed miserably despite vigorous canvassing by PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Here, observers said the opposition parties did not have a strategy that was suited to the Land of the Hornbills as they merely relied on the same strategies used in the peninsula.
tunku : for me this is expected results.some may have high hopes that bukit gantang will be in bn's favour. BN need to work harder and we can't blame the new team as it won't be fair to them but then again they can't take things for granted.they need to prove to malaysian that they are not the old one, they are changed and devoted to the people.first step for bn is for najib to choose a new team in his cabinet which can win the heart of the people(please no kj in it).by looking at bn's campaign at the two bukits, we can see so many flaws and old tactics still used by them although there were new approaches that worked well.najib was be brave enough to change the mindset of umno members.they must not take things like it used to be.time have change so do the people.it is a tough tough time ahead for bn.they must really struggle now, it is do or die battle in front of them now on.
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7 comments:
The rakyat had made their choices. Responsibilies are waiting for the winners. Also the janji they made. Rakyat will monitor. If they don't perform, whoever they are and what parties they represented, we go for others in the coming election. Don't be too taksub and jumud. Meanwhile, the lossers, as usual, have to work harder and smarter to win back the hearts of the people.
Pilihan Khairy Jamaluddin oleh 304 orang pemuda telah menyebabkan BN ditolak oleh akar umbi UMNO di Bukit Gantang dan Bukit Selambau diPRK ini. Sekarang Terima lah PADAH nya. Kini dengan ada nya Khairy Jamaluddin dan kuncu2 yang masih bermaharajalela merompak harta rakyat dalam UMNO, maka bersedia lah untuk menerima kekalahan UMNO dan BN di PRU13 nanti. Sial Khairy sedang meresap ke dalam UMNO...
Siapa wajib diselamatkan Khairy Jamaluddin atau Orang2 Melayu ?
Ahli Umno
The by-elections will not dent Najib's plan. In fact it is a lesson well learnt and Najib has lots of experience handling an almost defeat ( like when he almost lost Pekan by 244 votes). He will move on and this is the opportunity given on a platter to him to prove his stock and breed as a very able leader.
He will have his ways and means to handle it and I believe he is one of the most resourceful leaders of out time. The wave of dissenting views still flows but watch how he handles them very very soon.
As a former anti Dollah voter, I will give my fullest support for him (Najib) as our leader.
Like a famous quote, it is just an obstacle and can be overcome...at any rate Malaysian gave an overwhelming support to an incompetent exPM...Najib is walking thru a mine field but he will come out smelling roses....
I am not a politician but a tax payer who is very angry that my taxes has gone to pay for the incompetent to run my beloved Malaysia......A wage earner who work his butts to provide for ...so go Najib go...You have my 1 vote support
Samy Vellu, Mahathir and those goons who left PKR together with EZAM should stop talking about politics. They should be doing some charity work instead of politicking. All past American presidents retired gracefully and those who are still alive are doing social work to help the people. Former GERAKAN leader did the same. Pak Lah may do the same. Leave politics to the "present and the future". Put the past in the "bin". Aiyaa...ini pun orang politik tak faham!!! We don't want to hear any more "surat khabar lama" songs in politics. It's a liability in politics. Imagine Bush coming back into politics - "Bush will catch fire and become ash (abu)." Leave this song to those who are really looking for surat khabar lama...
Assalamualaikum,
Well the 2 Bukit's By-election has proven that the Chinese voters and Indian Voters did not vote for Barisan. The Malay voters was split.
So why the MCA wants the DPM post if they could not even provide the support to Barisan.Now MIC wants 2 Ministerial posts. The current MIC has 1 Minister and 2 Timbalan Minister. The Senator T Murugiah from Trong also cannot deliver. So what is this> Makan mahu besar. Kerja tak boleh deliver. Bukit Selambau lain kali letak UMNO.
anon 10.19 am,
some old newspaper people keep for their important values.
not all old newspaper people throw or recycle. old newspaper like nik aziz,karpal singh, lim kit siang should be shredded.
Dear Tunku
I agree with you. Once these people 'leave' they should not come back anymore. BUT, THEY HAVE NOT LEFT YET. When they leave and make a come back then shred them. EZAM should be shredded before he makes another attempt to return to campaign for UMNO - A REAL LIABILITY TO UMNO AND BN. I think, they have shredded Nalla, Ezam's close friend. Good thing that he did not appear in Selambau. If he had, MIC would have lost by another 5000 votes!!! I was told that Samy Vellu left the scene before 4 pm. He must have felt the heat... he should be shredded soon.
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