WHILE Perikatan Nasional (PN) may concede defeat to the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) alliance in yesterday’s (Oct 7) Pelangai state assembly by-election, there was no “full vote transferability” between PH-BN, so observed a Bersatu political scientist.
If that happens, BN would have obtained an increase of 2,031 votes which was the total vote count for PH during the 15th General Election (GE15) on Nov 19 last year, according to Datuk Dr Marzuki Mohamad who was the former aide of eighth premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“On the other hand, BN only secured an increase of 16 votes in this by-election. What was more obvious was a swing Malay votes to PN whereby the number of PN votes rose by 1,115,” observed Marzuki who was the principal private secretary to the current Bersatu president and Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman.
“It seems that the trend in the Aug 12’s six states elections continued in the Pelangai by-election. It should also be remembered that Pelangai was a BN stronghold.”
While a win is still a win even with one vote insofar as the democratic process is concerned, there is nevertheless evidence of very high vote transferability among non-Malay PH supporters to BN, reported Malaysiakini.
“This is apparent in voting districts where Malays are not the majority – Manchis, Sungai Gapoi, Telemong and Sungai Perdak. Notably, BN makes a 1.31% gain in Simpang Pelangai where 96.8% of the voters are Malays,” noted the independent news portal.
“As for PN, they made gains in all nine voting districts which indicate that they may have attracted some Malay PH supporters to switch sides, especially in Simpang Pelangai which ironically also saw the biggest swing towards PN (19.3% of the voters).”
According to the Election Commission (EC), the turnout for Pelangai was 72.12% compared to 78% during GE15. There was a total of 11,746 ballots cast, of which 120 were spoilt votes.
Officially, Bentong UMNO committee member Datuk Amizar Amizar Abu Adam retained the Pelangai seat for the PH-BN alliance by having polled 7,324 votes to win the seat with a 2,949-vote majority over his PN-PAS rival Kasim Samat who obtained 4,375 votes.
Independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasni who was expelled from UMNO for contesting in the by-election lost his RM5,000 deposit after having polled just 47 votes.
Pelangai has a total of 16,456 eligible to vote in this by-election (including postal and absentee voters). The constituency has a racial breakdown of 74.3% Malay, Chinese (18.2%) and Indians (7.5%).
In extending his heartfelt congratulations to Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, and the entire PH-BN election machinery for the precious victory, UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi described the outcome as “as a tell-tale sign that there is no green wave in Pahang”.
“What we have is only the blue and red wave which is now more accepted by Malaysians at large,” added the Deputy Prime Minister. – Oct 8, 2023
Main pic credit: UMNO Online
