Permatang Pauh result positive for BN: Zahid

The Permatang Pauh by-election result showed a "positive symptom" towards the Barisan Nasional (BN), said the coalition's election machinery director Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"This positive symptom has given a new light for UMNO in Permatang Pauh to keep up the struggle. Congratulations to the voters who have supported BN," he told a press conference at the BN operations room here late Thursday.

He described the support for BN in Permatang Pauh as a moral victory and urged the party machinery to maintain its spirit and take "the winds of change" as a motivation.

"National issues manipulated by the opposition should be explained quickly to prevent them from becoming a cancer in the minds of the people.

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"The BN government is aware that Permatang Pauh is hungry for development, and wants to see what Pakatan Rakyat can do for the people here in the three years," he said.

He said the BN accepted the result, as determined by the people.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid who is also Home Minister expressed regret over the unfavourable incidents initiated by certain quarters during the by-election.