A United Barisan Nasional Can Win Permatang Pasir Seat - Mukhriz

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) can win the by-election in Permatang Pasir, Penang, if all the component parties remained united said Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir today.
By being united, BN's chances of winning would be very much higher, he said when interviewed by Bernama's Radio24 here today.
"We, in politics, know pretty well that unity is vital when faced with an important mission like an election. The opposition also know that fact.
"That is why DAP secretary general and Penang Chief Minister told PAS to resolve its internal squabble to retain the Permatang Pasir state seat and learn from its shortcomings in the Manek Urai state by-election. If we in BN can show a similar camaraderie (BN) the battle can be won," he told Bernama today.
Mukhriz who is also Jerlun Member of Parliament said BN must maintain the momentum and strategy applied during the Manik Urai by-election in Kelantan.
"If we view the Manik Urai situation, it was evident that there was an increase in votes, including from the younger generation but we cannot call it a trend yet because it has to happen a few times. However, Permatang Pasir can show a similar improvement like Manik Urai," he said.
The Permatang Pasir state seat fell vacant when its assemblyman Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman, 63, from PAS, died at the National Heart Centre in Kuala Lumpur on July 31, after having served the constituency for three terms.
The Election Commission (EC) fixed Aug 17 for nomination and Aug 25 for polling.
In the March 2008 general election, Mohd Hamdan secured 11,004 votes to defeat BN's candidate Ahmad Sahar Shuib by a 5,433 vote-majority.
The constituency has 20,289 registered voters (including one postal voter), with 72.36 per cent Malays, 25.85 per cent Chinese, 1.63 per cent Indians and 0.16 per cent "others".

tunku : Mukhriz said it right that a united BN can win Permatang Pasir seat and while unity is a must, bn can't bank on manik urai result.they must work harder than manik urai.there are few weaknesses in manik urai's campaign which bn should improve.they must make sure all its members to vote in the by election.we hope to see the right approach at permatang pasir.there is "hope" for bn to win this as the opposition pacts are getting lose.