BN thumping victories prove Najib has strong grassroots support

The Barisan Nasional thumping victories in Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections yesterday proved its chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has strong grassroots support form all Malaysians.

Former MIC president and former works minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the result also shows that the prime minister is unshakable.

"The Opposition parties must realise they have lost not just the two by-elections but their integrity as well, and accept the people's verdict.

"They must realise that the support for BN and Najib came from both urban and rural areas and from all races. He will continue to be a pragmatic prime minister for all Malaysians," he said in a statement, today.

The Kuala Kangsar parliamentary seat was won by Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid, the widow of Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad who perished in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak on May 5, with a bigger majority of 6,969-vote compared to her late husband's 1,082-vote majority

Meanwhile, Budiman Mohd Zohdi, the Sungai Panjang state assemblyman, retained the Sungai Besar seat which was formerly held by Tan Sri Noriah Kasnon who was also killed in the same helicopter crash, with a bigger majority of 9,191 votes compared with Noriah's razor-thin 399-vote majority in the 2013 General Election.

Mastura polled 12,653 votes in a four-cornered fight against PAS candidate Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad (5,684 votes), Amanah candidate Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli (4,883 votes) and Independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary who lost his deposit when he managed only 54 votes.

Budiman meanwhile, swept aside his challengers by polling 16,800 votes in a three-cornered fight against Amanah's Azhar Abdul Shukur, who is also Sungai Besar Amanah chairman who garnered 7,609 votes, while Dr Abdul Rani Osman from PAS who is Meru state assemblyman had 6,902 votes.

The Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections signified victory for the MIC as Indian support had returned to the party.

Meanwhile, MIC President Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said the by-elections signified victory for the MIC as Indian support had returned to the party.

MIC was happy with the result as this was not only a win for Barisan Nasional (BN) but also for the party for successfully gaining back Indian support, he told reporters after attending the 2nd International Yoga Celebration here today.

"We are quite happy because the percentage of Indian voter turnout was high at 70 per cent and Indian votes towards Barisan Nasional stood at 70 per cent.

"The ability of the MIC to connect with the Indian community is still very strong, and by voting for us there would be a lot of expectations from the Indian community," said the Health Minister.

He said it was BN and MIC’s priority to address the various issues of the Indian community in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar and to fulfill the promises to them.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the BN victory in both the by-elections showed that the people were not easily influenced and fed up with the opposition propaganda, including the move by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to campaign for Pakatan Harapan.

"The people are wiser in differentiating between diamond and glass when they chose the BN's excellent record compared to the weakness of Pakatan Harapan which is now like it is waiting to disintegrate," she said in a statement, here today.

Azalina said both the by-elections also became the yardstick for the excellent work of the party particularly under Najib's leadership.

Lembah Pantai UMNO division head, Datuk Seri Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, meanwhile regarded the excellent BN win in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar as a demonstration of the people's confidence in the BN in administering the country.

He said that the positive support shown by the people whether in Sarawak or in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar indicated that the general election should be held as soon as possible.

He said this to reporters after officiating a premier gotong royong program organised by the Wanita movement of the Lembah Pantai UMNO division, here today.