BARISAN Nasional’s (BN) win in Pelangai today proved voters have accepted the unity government, said Pahang BN chairman Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.

The Pahang menteri besar said when the unity government was first formed, voters might have been confused, but they had begun to see the effectiveness of the pact.

“In the long run, I believe voters will see the facts and the service-oriented politics we offer, what we can provide to them and they are now enjoying the benefits. That is why today they chose BN again to continue bringing development.

“This approval was seen in two district polling centres in Pelangai, which comprises mainly non-Malay voters who gave their votes to BN. It can be said this group of voters are embracing the BN-PH (Pakatan Harapan) cooperation in the unity government,” he told the media in Bentong tonight.

In the Pelangai by-election, BN’s Amizar Abu Adam garnered 7,324 votes, defeating Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) candidate Kasim Samat (4,375 votes) and Independent candidate Haslihelmy D.M. Zulhasni (47 votes).

Wan Rosdy said the win showed voters in the area reject PN’s campaign narrative that revolved around slander and 3R (religion, race, royal institution) sentiments, thus stopping the “green wave” dead in its tracks.

Wan Rosdy, who is also Umno vice-president, said BN’s winning momentum in Pelangai would be strengthened ahead of the Kemaman parliamentary by-election as PAS did not file an appeal against the Terengganu election court’s decision to nullify Kemaman MP Che Alias Hamid’s victory in the general election.

“We have done our best in Pelangai, although there was a slight drop (in the majority), which is normal. However, we will analyse why it happened and make improvements,” he said.

He expressed appreciation for PH chairman and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, BN chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and the party machinery for their support to ensure BN’s victory. – Bernama, October 7, 2023.