BN retains Pahang with more than two thirds majority

The Barisan Nasional (BN) retained Pahang in yesterday's 13th General Election with more than two thirds majority despite losing eight more seats to the opposition this time around.

BN won 30 of the 42 seats at stake, as compared to 38 seats previously. The DAP won seven seats, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (two ) and PAS (three).

As for parliamentary seats, BN won 10 of the 14 seats up for grabs. The coalition lost Kuantan and Indera Mahkota to PKR while PAS won in Temerloh and DAP in Raub.

In PEKAN, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak defended the seat for the 10th term with a majority of 35,613 votes, very much higher than in the 2008 general election. His opponent was Mohd Fariz Musa of PKR.

Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob successfully defended his Pelangai state seat for the seventh time when he defeated PAS's Abdul Hamid Bahatim by a majority of 2,475 votes.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai retained his Bentong parliamentary seat, former Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had little difficulty keeping his Bera seat while former senior cabinet minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis had no problems retaining Rompin.

However, former Deputy Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah suffered a shock loss in Temerloh, losing to Nasrudin Hassan of PAS, who obtained a 1,070-vote majority.

In BENTONG, Adnan, when met by reporters, said he was happy that the BN had successfully defended Pahang and thanked the voters for continuing to place their trust in the BN.

He attributed the losing of more seats this time around to a swing of Chinese voters away from the BN.

Meanwhile, all the 16 candidates who stood as independents in eight parliamentary seats and and 10 state seats lost while a candidate from Berjasa not only lost but also forfeited his deposit.