FULL REPORT KUALA KUBU BARU: Addressing some 500 supporters at the mini stadium here, PKR candidate Zaid Ibrahim said he was defeated because “vote-buying was halal” in this country.
“This is a problem we need to overcome. (Prime Minister) Najib (Tun Razak) spent RM64 million to win this election and the EC (Election Commission) turned a blind eye,” he said.
The 56-year-old former law minister stressed that Malaysia has a political system which does not respect clean elections.
“In 2008, we made headway because Pak Lah (former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) allowed the opposition to win seats.
“But then they (Umno) kicked him out and now we are back at square one,” he said.
Stressing that he was not making excuses for his defeat, Zaid underscored the importance of pressing for clean and fair elections.
“I can accept my loss, but we were not given the satisfaction of knowing that it was a fair fight, and the rakyat has no confidence (in the system),” he said.
'Najib, think of your legacy'
The PKR supreme council member said the Hulu Selangor contest was the most “dirtiest and corrupt” by-election so far.
“I call on Najib to think about the legacy he is leaving behind,” he said, adding that BN cannot employ the same underhand tactics for long.
Speaking to reporters earlier, Zaid said the high number of votes for PKR signalled the fact that "we are getting there."
Asked if he felt dejected, he replied:"Of course, when you lose you cannot be happy, but the manner in which you lose is also important. I am okay."
On whether he expected to be defeated, the PKR candidate said: "Of course. In a contest, you would expect to win or lose."
Although the mood in the stadium was sombre, with some supporters even shedding tears, they nevertheless chanted their traditional "Reformasi" battle cries.
Meanwhile, PKR's Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah, who termed the contest as a “buy election”, said that she was proud of the party's accomplishment in the face of “misplaced voters and police hostility”.
“We have succeeded in embarrassing BN by denying (Deputy Prime Minister) Muhyiddin (Yassin) his 6,000 vote victory,” she said, referring to the deputy premier's statement this morning.
Nurul, who is the daughter of PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, said the by-election has given the opposition party a good foundation for the next general election.
Next battle in Sibu
Earlier, PKR election director Fuziah Salleh pledged that the opposition party would continue its struggle.
“Just because we lost today, it does not mean that we would lose all the time. What is important is that we fight with dignity,” she said, appearing upset.
“We would continue fighting to show BN that this (setback) would not cripple us. We would give our best in the Sibu (by-election in Sarawak),” she added.
Meanwhile, PKR's director of strategies Tian Chua said losing in an election was nothing new for those who champion justice and reform.
“This is not the first time that we have lost. We would not give up the fight,” he added.
Among the Pakatan stalwarts present at the stadium are Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang.
'We have learnt a lesson'
The Selangor MB thanked Pakatan supporters for their courage in facing up to the ruling coalition.
“I have faced a defeat before in the Ijok (by-election) but it never killed my spirit, and I kept on fighting.
“Now in Hulu Selangor, I have learnt a lesson -- it is very hard to fight against abuse of power and corruption. But we have to keep fighting,” he said.
Despite the defeat, Khalid pledged that the state government would ensure that the Felda settlers get their rights.
“They may have voted for BN out of fear, but when we deliver their rights, they would be with us. Hulu Selangor would not be abandoned, it would become the basis of our struggle,” he said.
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