KUALA BESUT, July 25 – Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin described Barisan Nasional’s (BN) win in the Kuala Besut state seat by-election as a manifestation of the peoples support and trust in the BN-led government.
Muhyiddin said the victory was all the more meaningful as Tengku Zaihan Che Ku Abd Rahman, the BN candidate, had won in all eight polling stations, including Kampung Nangka and Bukit Puteri, two centres that favoured PAS in the 13th general election.
He said though the voter turn out was lower than the 13th general election, the ‘man-to-man marking’ strategy adopted throughout the election campaign had given a positive impact.
“Since BN’s election campaign held throughout the allocated campaigning period was not focused on personal attacks or running down the opponent, it gave a very good impression to voters.
“Furthermore, the initiative taken by BN to resolve almost all the problems raised by the people had given a positive impact and confidence towards the BN government,” he told reporters after the results were announced at the Majlis Daerah Besut hall in Jerteh, near here, Wednesday.
Muhyiddin who is also BN election director for the by-election said the victory was also due to the continuous support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who is also the BN chairman and the entire election machinery, including the roles played by Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said and Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh who was the deputy election director for Kuala Besut.
The deputy prime minister also described the victory as a perfect belated birthday gift for Najib who had celebrated his birthday, yesterday.
Muhyiddin said though the opposition may use BN’s failure to win by a 4,000-vote majority as an excuse to cover up their defeat, they cannot deny the outcome of the voting process and the peoples choice.
He added that on behalf of the government he would ensure that every project planned for execution would be carried out on schedule to enable Tengku Zaihan to remain with the people and continue assisting them.
“Tengku Zaihan’s job as the people’s representative starts tonight and he needs to focus full time on the needs of the people in every sector,” he said.
In the just concluded Kuala Besut state seat by-election, Tengku Zaihan defeated PAS candidate Endot@Azlan Jusoh, 48, by a 2,592-vote majority.
Meanwhile, Tengku Zaihan said top most on his list of priority would be education and to upgrade the infrastructure and facilities in Kuala Besut.
– BERNAMA
