Bigger majorities for BN

By  Badrolhisham Bidin, Jason Gerald John and M. Hamzah Jamaluddin

news@nst.com.my

Barisan Nasional kept up the momentum of impressive by-election performances with improved-majority wins in Merlimau and Kerdau. 

Equally significant was the higher voter turnout of 83 per cent in Kerdau (up from 80.3 per cent in 2008) and 79 per cent in Merlimau (compared with 76.18 per cent in 2008).

BN-Umno has thus inflicted four consecutive by-election defeats on Pas which also lost to the ruling coalition in Galas (Nov 4) and Tenang (Jan 30). Pas has not won a by-election since the Permatang Pasir contest in August 2009. BN deputy chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was in Merlimau for the announcement, described the two wins as “a great victory”.

As for the detailed results, the Kerdau majority rose from 1,615 to 2,724 with BN’s Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad, 44, polling 5,060 votes against Pas’ Hasanuddin Salim’s 2,336. Hasanuddin, 43, the Pahang Pas information chief, had in the March 2008 general election lost the contest for the seat to the late Datuk Zaharuddin Abu Kassim of BN.

Returning officer Datuk Tarif Abdul Rahman announced the result at Dewan Tun Razak at 8.20pm.

A celebratory mood in the BN camp was apparent from as early as 6pm and they erupted into loud cheers when the confirmed result was announced by Tarif. Syed Ibrahim and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, the BN director for the by-election, were mobbed by BN supporters after the announcement.

Syed Ibrahim, who was the Kuala Krau Umno division vice-head, thanked all BN workers for helping him to clinch victory. “I will commit myself to serve the people in Kerdau.” In Merlimau, Roslan Ahmad garnered 5,962 votes against Yuhaizad Abdullah’s 2,319, producing a 3,643- vote majority. The late BN assemblyman, Datuk Mohamad Hidhir Abdul Hassan, won in 2008 with a 2,154-vote majority. The result was announced by returning officer Roslan Eusoff at 8.15pm.

Moments after the announcement at Politeknik Merlimau, Roslan thanked the BN leadership, voters and party machinery, saying he had felt the growing support for BN during campaigning.

“I promise to ensure Merlimau will be more developed in line with the chief minister’s aim to make Malacca a developed state.” Of particular interest was the low voter turnout in Chin Chin, Yuhaizad’s own kampung, and the record turnout in Merlimau Pasir, Roslan’s hometown.

Roslan, a Jasin Umno committee member, cast his vote at SK Merlimau 1 with his wife, Siti Zalifah Omar, while Jasin Pas deputy chief Yuhaizad, who was not a registered voter in Merlimau, accompanied his mother to vote in Chin Chin.

Yuhaizad and Pas supporters were absent during the announcement.

Pas vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, when contacted, said Pas accepted the defeat and would carr y out a post-mortem as its loss in all voting areas was “very serious”.

“We need to identify the reasons.” Good weather contributed to the high voter turnout. Merlimau’s 79 per cent turnout (out of 10,679 voters) almost matched the Election Commission’s projection of an 80 per cent turnout.

The Kerdau figure surpassed the commission’s 80 per cent.

Merlimau and Kerdau's contests were the 15th and 16th by-elections since the 2008 general election.