KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) defeat in the Rantau by-election today is a reminder to the coalition’s leadership that it must address the people’s concerns regarding the economy and cost of living.
PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in a statement, said PKR accepted the results of the Rantau by-election, describing it as the people’s decision.
“PH and PKR respect the decision and congratulate (Barisan Nasional candidate) Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
“This defeat is a reminder to the PH leadership on the need to continue to pay attention to the people’s concerns about the economy and cost of living.”
Anwar, who is also Port Dickson, MP added that he believed PH would soon be able to rise above the loss and regain the people’s support.
“Thank you to all PH and PKR machinery for showing maturity and a good example during campaigning,” said Anwar.
Meanwhile, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is on leave, said PH was rejected in Rantau because voters realised that they had supported the wrong party in the 14th General Election.
“Tok Mat (Mohamad) is a suitable state assemblyman for Rantau even though they risked electing a candidate from the opposition,” he said in a statement after the result of the Rantau by-election was announced.
Mohamad, who is Umno deputy president and BN deputy chairman, has held the seat since 2004
He garnered 10,397 votes, while PH’s Dr S. Streram, 64, got 5,887 votes.
Independent candidates R. Malarvizhi, 51, and Mohd Nor Yassin, 67, only managed to get 83 and 79 votes respectively, effectively losing their deposits.