BN's Win Due To Effectiveness Of Election Machinery - Muhyiddin

TUMPAT, Sept 25 (Bernama) - Barisan Nasional's (BN) win in the Pengkalan Kubor by-election is due to the effectiveness of its election machinery and the good background of the candidate.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the win was surprising because the majority of votes received by the BN candidate was more than the votes received in the general election last year.

"Contributing factors include good handling of issues including the oil royalty. Pakatan Rakyat's internal problems made many voters to become fed up with them," he told reporters after the announcement of the win by the BN candidate, Mat Razi Mat Ail at SMK Dato Biji Wangsa here, Thursday night.

Mat Razi received 9,981 votes to beat PAS candidate Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim (7,326 votes) and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary (38 votes).

The BN won with a majority of 2,635 votes compared to a majority of 1,736 votes in the general election last year.

Pengkalan Kubor by-election was held following the death of Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar (BN) on August 20.

Muhyiddin said BN had already communicated the win to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is now in New York.

"The Prime Minister congratulated the BN election machinery and the candidate, Ustaz Mat Razi on the win."

He said BN would like to thank the voters in Pengkalan Kubor as the party only lost in three of the 12 polling district centres.

The win was also because BN by-election director Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed succeeded in repelling PAS attacks on issues including the petroleum royalty.

Muhyiddin said BN would deliver all the promises made such as upgrading of infrastructure adding the win was a catalyst to capture Kelantan from PAS.

He urged Mat Razi to serve the electorate regardless of race, religion and political affiliation.

Meanwhile, Mat Razi said he was grateful for the win and promised to continue the good work of former state assemblyman, the late Noor Zahidi.

"I would like to thank all those who helped me including the family of the deceased."

He said the win was beyond expectation adding that he would like to see Pengkalan Kubor properly developed.