Barisan Nasional’s (BN) victory in the Ayer Kuning by-election yesterday is a convincing win despite not reaching the vote target set by the state leadership, says Umno‘s Puad Zarkashi.
The Supreme Council member said the 11,065 votes obtained by Yusri Bakir is also proof that the BN-Pakatan Harapan cooperation works.
“Although we only achieved over 2,000 more votes than the 9,088 votes obtained in the 15th general election (GE15), I still think that is an encouraging result,” he told FMT when met at a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house organised by Umno veteran Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.
Yesterday, Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad said BN failed to achieve its target of 18,000 votes because of a low voter turnout.
Saarani, who is the state BN chairman, added that a turnout of at least 75% was needed to achieve the vote target he had set.
According to the Election Commission, only 58% of the 31,897 registered voters came out to cast their ballots, a drop from the 75% who turned up in GE15.
Yusri defeated his closest rival, Perikatan Nasional’s Abdul Muhaimin Malek, with a 5,006-vote majority, in the three-cornered contest for the Perak state constituency.
The PAS man obtained 6,059 votes while Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s KS Bawani received 1,106 votes.
