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Categories
| Anwar defends Manek Urai win |
| Politics & Government 2009 | |||
| Written by Chua Sue-Ann | |||
| Wednesday, 15 July 2009 10:56 | |||
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Anwar said while by-elections were "indeed tough" for the opposition, the PR coalition "still won despite attacks and RM150 million (in development efforts) promised (by Barisan Nasional) to such a small constituency." "About the votes for PAS, the point is we still recorded wins in all by-elections in Peninsular Malaysia," Anwar told reporters at the sidelines of his sodomy trial here today. Since the general elections in March last year, PR had scored wins during polls in Permatang Pauh, Kuala Terengganu, Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau and Penanti. The opposition coalition only lost the Batang Ai state seat to BN, who had stayed out of the recent Penanti by-election. Yesterday's unexpected results saw PAS candidate Mohd Fauzi Abdullah clinch the state seat with a thin 65-vote margin, polling at 5,348 votes against BN's Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat who obtained 5,283. The Manek Urai state seat fell vacant on May 22 when its incumbent Ismail Yaacob died from a heart attack. The 60-year-old assemblyman had won the seat in 2008 with a 1,352-vote majority. BN has since claimed "moral victory" in Manek Urai. Anwar said PR leaders would meet on Friday to discuss the by-election results and other "perception issues". The perception issues, Anwar said, included the stir surrounding calls to reshuffle the Selangor state executive council, the abattoir controversy in Kedah as well as the Kampung Buah Pala issue in Penang. Anwar said he was aware of "tension on the ground" from supporters and urged PR members to raise their criticisms at "the proper forum". Commenting on speculation that general elections would be called next year, Anwar said although Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has ruled out the possibility, the latter "does not have the credibility" to make that conclusion at this point. "We are prepared to take over the federal government, god willing, notwithstanding the 11 goodies announced," Anwar said referring to Najib's announcements last week. Meanwhile, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said he was "delighted" by the win despite the narrow margin. "Having had experience of the by-election in Ijok, I think the victory by PAS is a real one," said Khalid, who is Ijok assemblyman and Bandar Tun Razak parliamentarian. Asked if he was surprised by the thin margin, Khalid said while he did not expect the margin to be "that small", he was more worried that there would be low voter turnout. Khalid, who is Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) treasurer-general, said PAS and PR were facing the "whole government and BN machinery" during the state polls. He added the by-election campaign had been "very targeted", estimating that there were about nine campaign staff, from both sides, working to woo 12,293 voters.
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