PARIS: Deputy prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Barisan Nasional memebrs at all levels should take lessons from the Sungai Limau by-election defeat and be prepared to work even harder in the future.
“The area, despite being touted as a PAS stronghold, has been penetrated by BN, and I am confident that a larger portion of those who gave us their votes were fence-sitters who may have supported the opposition but are drawn to us, this time around,” he noted.
Speaking to Malaysian journalist here, Muhyiddin said the support of the Chinese community in the area had also improved as compared to the general election in May, based on the results of the Polling District Centre (PDM).
“I am confident that during our campaign, we managed to repel all sorts of propaganda and attacks made by the opponents on national issues, that BN is corrupt or the growing inflation, and so on.
“Some of the issues relating to the 2014 Budget have been explained but I believe we need to continue the effort as the situation could change in future,” he added.
He said BN might need to look at the aspect of campaign effectiveness and study the capability of the machinery, including from the angle of logistics, information and so on, in a by-election post-mortem.
On the performance of Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir, he said according to a report he received, voter acceptance of Mukhriz was excellent.
“They saw him as a young leader, friendly to the people and he also reached out to the grassroots, and villagers. I believe he could also look at development in the state,” said Muhyiddin who is in France on a five-day working visit to attend the 37th United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) General Conference.
Muhyiddin said, what had been promised during and after the by-election by both the federal and state governments, should be implemented.
“I did not say the promises were conditional, whatever we have announced, we will carry them out,” he added.
Outcome blow to PAS
He did not deny the influence of the late Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak (former Kedah menteri besar) was still strong in the area.
“But it was inevitable that the PAS leader still has a hold over the people but I do not think it will continue as we have managed to chip away their majority,” he noted.
PAS retained the Sungai Limau state seat on Monday with a reduced 61% majority through its candidate Mohd Azam Abd Samat, 37, who obtained 12,069 votes; BN candidate Dr Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim, 52, obtained 10,985 votes.
In the 13th General Election in May, (former Kedah menteri besar) PAS won the state seat in a four-cornered fight, with a majority of 2,774 votes.
Meanwhile in PETALING JAYA, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin described PAS’s reduced majority win as a big blow to the opposition party.
“It shows that we can penetrate the stronghold that was once held by a PAS commissioner.
“The new state assemblyman cannot rest on his laurels,” he told reporters after opening the Southeast Asian Shooting Championship at the Subang national shooting range here on Monday.
The Youth and Sports minister also expressed regret over the incidence of violence involving opposition supporters and Umno Wanita members during the campaign.
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