From Nurulhuda Che Das
PARIS, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery should not be disappointed with the results of the Sungai Limau state by-election as despite the loss, the majority votes obtained by the opposition had been reduced, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
"I wish to thank the entire BN machinery for their hardwork in Sungai Limau and despite not winning, we managed to reduce PAS' majority.
"This means, efforts undertaken by all party leaders and machinery have increased the support of voters for the BN," he told Malaysian journalists here Tuesday.
He said BN members at all levels should take lessons from the 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.
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 Datuk 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," he said.
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.
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 seat with a reduced majority of more than half in the by-election yesterday.
BN candidate Dr Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim who obtained 10,985 votes, lost to Mohd Azam Abd Samat by a 1,084 majority. The PAS candidate received 12,069 votes.
In the 13th General Election in May, (former Kedah menteri besar) Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak (PAS) won the state seat in a four-cornered fight, with a majority of 2,774 votes.
Muhyiddin is currently in the French capital for a five-day working visit to attend the 37th United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) General Conference, beginning today.
PARIS, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery should not be disappointed with the results of the Sungai Limau state by-election as despite the loss, the majority votes obtained by the opposition had been reduced, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
"I wish to thank the entire BN machinery for their hardwork in Sungai Limau and despite not winning, we managed to reduce PAS' majority.
"This means, efforts undertaken by all party leaders and machinery have increased the support of voters for the BN," he told Malaysian journalists here Tuesday.
He said BN members at all levels should take lessons from the 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.
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 Datuk 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," he said.
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.
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 seat with a reduced majority of more than half in the by-election yesterday.
BN candidate Dr Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim who obtained 10,985 votes, lost to Mohd Azam Abd Samat by a 1,084 majority. The PAS candidate received 12,069 votes.
In the 13th General Election in May, (former Kedah menteri besar) Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak (PAS) won the state seat in a four-cornered fight, with a majority of 2,774 votes.
Muhyiddin is currently in the French capital for a five-day working visit to attend the 37th United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) General Conference, beginning today.
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