PH-BN vote transferability dwindling, PAS Youth claims after by-election

PH-BN vote transferability dwindling, PAS Youth claims after by-election

PETALING JAYA: PAS Youth claimed last night that the vote transferability between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional was dwindling, citing their failure to hit their 18,000-vote target in the Ayer Kuning by-election.

The wing claimed that voters had collectively sent a message that they were disappointed in the performances of the state and federal governments.

Even more glaring, it said, was the drop in the number of Chinese voters who went to cast their ballots.

“This reduction showed that even PH’s hardcore supporters were unwilling to back BN. This is a clear rejection of the alliance between the two coalitions,” it said in a statement. BN and PH are allies in the unity government.

PAS Youth said BN’s win in Ayer Kuning was not surprising given that the constituency was a BN stronghold.

It, however, erroneously claimed that the majority BN won had been reduced.

Last night, BN candidate Yusri Bakir was declared the winner of the by-election with a 5,006-vote majority, more than double the 2,213-vote majority obtained in 2022 by Ishsam Shahruddin, whose death on Feb 22 caused the by-election for the state seat

PAS Youth also said Perikatan Nasional retained 6,000 votes, demonstrating that their grassroots support remains intact despite going up against the unity government’s machinery.

PN’s Abdul Muhaimin Malek of PAS garnered 6,059 votes. In the last general election, the party secured 6,812 votes in a five-cornered fight.

Perak BN chairman Saarani Mohamad said they failed to achieve the 18,000-vote target because of the low voter turnout.