Digest on Malaysian News

It look like the April 7 Tri-Byelection scorecard will be a status quo, i.e Barisan Nasional retain its seat at N29 Batang Ai while Pakatan Rakyat maintained it seat at N25 Bukit Selambau and P59 Bukit Gantang. BN 1 PR 2.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

P59 Bukit Gantang - PAS's Mohd Jamaluddin Nizar (21,860 votes) has beaten BN-UMNO's Ismail Saffian (19,071 votes). Majority - 2,789 (In 2008, the majority was 1,566).

N29 Batang Ai, Sarawak - BN-PRS's Malcolm Mussem Lamoh (3,907 votes) has beaten PKR's Jawah Gerang (1,854). The majority is 2,053.





In an immediate reaction, PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim said that the Pakatan victory in the two 'bukits' showed that “irrespective of the new PM, Malaysians still want change.”

“They are even stronger in their support for PKR,” he said. Anwar said that he was satisfied with the result as PKR did not expect to win Batang Ai.

He added that with PAS’ thumping victory in Bukit Gantang, Perak should now have fresh elections.

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All 13 independent candidates accepted their heavy defeat to Manikumar - all of them lost their deposits.

A Jayagopal said the fact that the independents managed to garner some votes - no matter how low - indicated that there were some voters who were unhappy with Pakatan and BN.

Delivering a similar message, Mejar (B) Anuar Abdul Hamid, who got the highest votes among the independents (314 votes), said the votes he gained showed that there were some elements of disgruntled voters in the constituency.

Anuar, who quit Umno last May with Dr Mahathir Mohamad, also did not role out returning to the party. However he said that he needed to think about it first.

Tan Hock Huat said the results today also showed that the Indians and the Chinese supported the Pakatan government in Kedah and urged PAS not to promote any Islamisation policies.


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