KUALA KRAI, July 14 (Bernama) -- The result of the by-election for the Manik Urai state assembly seat is a moral victory for Barisan Nasional (BN) and the rejuvenation of BN in Kelantan.
BN Kelantan's election director Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said the narrow margin victory by PAS, compared with the March 8, 2008 general election, was a clear indication that the people have accepted Umno.
"It is a moral victory for BN and we lost by just 65 votes with the 1,352 majority earlier. We had fielded a capable candidate who had worked very hard to ensure BN's victory," he told reporters here today.
PAS retained the Manik Urai seat when its candidate Mohd Fauzi Abdullah defeated Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat of BN by a narrow margin of 65 votes after polling 5,348 votes against Tuan Aziz's 5,283.
The margin is a far cry from the party's 1,352-vote majority it obtained in the 2008 general election.
Mustapa was also happy that it was the first time BN were able to reduce the winning margin of the opposition in five by-elections held since the 2008 general election.
"It shows that the people of Manik Urai are disappointed with the leadership of Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat because he had failed to bring about any changes or development.
"It is a good sign that people are beginning to accept BN and that has given new inspiration for Kelantan Umno to continue striving for excellence to ensure BN's victory in the next general election," he said.
He also expressed regret that the election process was tarnished by PAS supporters who behaved like gangsters by throwing objects and injuring two Puteri Umno members at Sekolah Kebangsaan Peria polling station.
Mustapa said he would meet the candidate and the party's lawyers to file a petition in the court to request for a recount.
"We will compile all evidences, including the action of PAS supporters who violated the Election Commission's directive on campaign rules by waving flags at their vehicles in support, which was a breach of the election rules," he said.
Meanwhile, Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner III Datuk Husam Musa alleged that the reduced majority for its victory was due to BN practicing money politics.
Umno Information chief Ahmad Maslan said the narrow victory by PAS in the Manik Urai by-election in Kelantan today is a clear indication that the opposition was losing ground while the people were beginning to accept Barisan Nasional (BN).
"Looking at the reduced winning majority by PAS, there is evidence that those who did not support BN previously, had returned and accepted BN.
"I am personally not disappointed because we did not lose in all the ballot boxes counted. There were areas that we won and areas that we lost. However, we did our best and worked hard," he told Bernama here today.
Ahmad who is also deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department said there was much to learn from the defeat but PAS has no reason to be elated by the victory.
Wanita Umno chief Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said though BN lost in the vote count, it won the fight and the sincerity in its campaign.
"BN is beginning to win the hearts and minds of the people. This is evident from the result at Manik Urai and the reduced majority.
Peoples' Progressive Party (PPP) president Datuk M. Kayveas said the narrow victory by PAS showed that the oppositions propaganda was beginning to fade.
"We are witnessing an increase in support for BN and the days of victory is not far," he said.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Dr Syed Hussin Ali said although PAS won by a narrow margin, there was every reason for PKR to rejoice as it was a victory for Pakatan Rakyat.
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