Don't View Anwar's Victory Lightly, Says Muhyiddin

Don't View Anwar's Victory Lightly, Says Muhyiddin

SINGAPORE, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) should not take lightly the victory of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election, said Umno Vice-President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin said he was concerned that the voters' decision to give victory to the opposition would become a trend. "Although it was just a by-election, it could be an indication of a trend that the voters had already decided that they wanted change even if they didn't know what the changes were, and refused to accept BN's leadership," he told Malaysian journalists here.
Muhyiddin, who is International Trade and Industry Minister, was here to attend the Asean Economic Ministers Meeting.

He said BN and Umno should conduct a post-mortem and take steps to speed up Umno's reinventing process as well as measures to rebrand the BN with new approach more acceptable to the people.

According to him, this would require the BN and Umno to re-evaluate whether their approach to campaign was already "stale and no longer acceptable to the people."

"It is clear that we need to make swift changes to the organisation and to the way we do things," he said.

Muhyiddin added that the results also showed that the voters' mindset had shifted and that they now wanted something which "are fairer, not racial-based (politics) but one that is based on the profile of the multiracial and multi-religious Malaysians." "Umno should be prepared to make the change," he said.

Muhyiddin said, however, that Anwar's victory was something to be expected and accepted as it was the wishes of the people, who made their choice under a democratic process.

"It may be that whatever is said about Anwar, the people and voters just refuse to believe it.
"The explanation given by our leaders was not accepted as though it was already decided from the outset that the BN would lose and PKR would win," he said.

Meanwhile, MCA Secretary-General Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said all parties should accept Anwar's victory as it was the wishes of the people.

"We must respect the voters' decision and the country's democratic practices.

"Irrespective of the BN's view, we must accept the people's decision," he told reporters in Genting Highlands after opening the 30th anniversary of the National Association of Malaysian Life Insurance and Financial Advisor.

Anwar won the by-election with a 15,671-vote majority after securing 31,195 votes, defeating BN candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, who obtained 15,524 votes.

Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia candidate, Hanafi Mamat, lost his deposit after obtaining only 92 votes. There were 447 spoilt votes.


Don't Misinterpret Permatang Pauh By-election's Result, Says Abdullah

JOHOR BAHARU, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- The result of the Permatang Pauh by-election, which was won by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, cannot be interpreted as a trend that can happen in other constituencies, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Wednesday.

The prime minister said the Barisan Nasional (BN) which won 140 parliamentary seats in the March 8 general election still commanded strong support from the people.

"What happened in Permatang Pauh was not something so big as to change the situation that exists after the last general election.

"The Permatang Pauh by-election is one by-election that cannot be interpreted as something that can happen in other constituencies. I believe we can still continue the government,"

Abdullah, who is also BN chairman, told reporters after sending off Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at the Senai Airport here Wednesday.

Anwar Ibrahim won the Permatang Pauh by-election Tuesday with a 15,671-vote majority, garnering 31,195 votes against the BN's Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, 51, who obtained 15,524 votes.

The other candidate, Hanafi Mamat, 61, of Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim) lost his deposit as he only received 92 votes.

kzso - pl, please wake up from your sleeplah and sweet dream; look what's happening around you ;the people are suffering and anwar/dap and pas is taking the opportunity. don't wait until 1511 happens again! at least there is still hope in umno when they still have leaders like muhyiddin. is pl still sleeping when he says don't worry it will not be a trend and not an indication; pl, for once pls do not listen to kj, kamaluddin, kalimullah and your hp6 supreme council and ministers