KOTA KINABALU: The decisive victory of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the Mahkota by-election underscores the increasing backing for this coalition, according to Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.
As reported by FMT, the former chief minister of Sabah emphasized that this outcome reflects voters’ desire for continued political stability and economic progress under the unity government.
BN’s Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah claimed the Mahkota assembly seat by defeating Perikatan Nasional’s Haizan Jaafar with a remarkable majority of 20,648 votes, significantly surpassing the 5,166-vote margin from the 2022 state election.
Despite a voter turnout of 53.84%, which is slightly lower than the 57.34% seen in the March 2022 Johor state assembly elections, Salleh noted that the coalition’s majority has seen a substantial increase.
He stated, “This not only indicates greater support for BN and PH, but also signifies the people’s confidence in Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s leadership and the unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.”
Salleh, who is Sabah UMNO treasurer highlighted that these results reflect the party’s rising prominence under its president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He also pointed out that the uptick in Malay votes indicates a revival of the party’s traditional support base.
Furthermore, Salleh identified the youth demographic as a crucial factor in BN-PH’s success in Mahkota.
“Voters were attracted to BN’s youthful candidate, who embodies hope and a fresh perspective in local politics,” he remarked.
“This was evident in the increased backing from young voters and others seeking greater stability, development, and unity under the BN-PH coalition and the unity government,” he added.
In the final tally, BN’s Syed Hussien garnered 27,995 votes, while PN’s Haizan Jaafar received 7,347 votes.
Source – FMT
