BN defends Layang-Layang seat, defeating Maszlee with 2,,815 majority

KLUANG: Barisan Nasional (BN) has emerged victorious in one of the most hotly-contested seats in the Johor state election as it retained the Layang-Layang state seat with a majority of 2,815 votes.

BN candidate Abdul Mutalip Abd Rahim saw off his rivals, former Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik of PKR; Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate K. Alagathiran and Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) candidate Ahmad Syafiq Othaman.

Abdul Mutalip, who was Layang-Layang state assemblyman from 2013 to 2018, obtained 7,551 votes compared to 4,736 votes for Maszlee.

Alagathiran meanwhile, managed to secure 1,278 votes and Ahmad Syafiq got a mere 164 votes.

The results were announced by returning officer Abdul Halim Abd Manap at the Simpang Renggam District Council Muafakat Hall at 10.45 pm.

Abdul Mutalip expressed his gratitude and thanks to voters for electing him as their representative and placing their trust in him.

The former Johor state Religious and Heritage Committee chairman also thanked the BN and UMNO central and state leadership for giving him the opportunity to contest.

Abdul Mutalip also promised to cooperate with Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee, regardless of their political differences as Layang-Layang is part of the Simpang Renggam parliamentary constituency.

"It is time for us to work together, there may be matters that require collaboration between MP and assemblyman for the benefit of our constituents," he said.

A total of 15,088 voters out of 25,147 registered voters in the constituency cast their votes today.

-- BERNAMA