BARISAN Nasional (BN) retained the Pelangai state seat in a by-election today when its candidate Amizar Abu Adam won by a majority of 2,949 votes.

The Bentong Umno committee member polled 7,324 votes to beat Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Kasim Samat, who obtained 4,375 votes, and Independent candidate Haslihelmy D.M. Zulhasni, who received only 47 votes and lost his deposit.

The result was announced by returning officer Mohammad Shahid Ismail at the vote-tallying centre at Dewan Orang Ramai Felda Kemasul tonight.

Shahid said voter turnout today was 72.12%.

A total of 16,456 electors were eligible to cast their ballots in the by-election, including 36 members of the police force and three overseas absentee voters.

The Pelangai by-election was held after incumbent Johari Harun, 53, who was also Pahang Local Government, Housing, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman, died in a plane crash in Shah Alam on August 17.

In the November general election, Johari won the seat with a 4,048-vote majority, defeating Kasim who obtained 3,260 votes, Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Ahmed Wafiuddin Shamsuri who got 2,031 votes, and Pejuang’s Isa Ahmad who received 65 votes.

BN has held Pelangai since 1986.

Amizar, a native of Felda Chemomoi, made his electoral debut in last year’s general election as BN candidate for Ketari.

He lost by a narrow 120 votes to PH’s Su Keong Siong, who garnered 9,722 votes in a three-cornered contest also involving PN’s Tan Wei Leong (4,290 votes). – Bernama, October 7, 2023.