PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said tonight that the results of the Permatang Pauh by-election showed an increase of between 4% and 5% of Malay votes, especially the youths.
She also attributed the turnout, 73.71%, to the fact that there was no element of sabotage from PAS election machinery and that voters wanted a stronger Pakatan Rakyat leadership.
“This is not just a win for PKR but also the people who oppose Barisan Nasional’s treatment towards Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“It is clear the politically-motivated jailing of Anwar by BN has attracted much sympathy and proof that he is still relevant to the people
“The results of this by-election also shows that people are disappointed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for his lavish lifestyle and scandals; especially 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and the latest use of funds from Tabung Haji,” she said after the announcement of her victory in Permatang Pauh.
She said the mainstream media had also failed in their attempt to slander her, Anwar and the opposition coalition leaders.
“They tried their best to paint my performance in Kajang in a bad light and break up the unity in PR, but it didn’t work.”
Dr Wan Azizah, who was flanked by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali during the press conference also thanked both leaders for their pledge to help her in Permatang Pauh and Kajang.
She added that despite the reduced majority compared to the 13th general election, it was not as bad as BN’s performance in Rompin.
“The reduced majority is due to the long break last weekend,” she said, adding that the Election Commission’s decision to set the Rompin by-election date earlier than Permatang Pauh to be another contributing factor.
Meanwhile, PAS’s Permatang Pauh by-election director Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said the victory in Permatang Pauh would drive PR to continue its agenda.
He congratulated everyone from PAS, PKR and DAP, who had worked hard together, in the campaign to send a strong signal that the coalition was still strong.
Mujahid, who is a PAS central committee member and Penang PAS deputy commissioner, said despite the issues that had threatened to split PR, the three parties managed to overcome them.
“For PAS, we had promised to deliver the most votes from the Permatang Pasir state seat and we have done that with the commitment shown by our election workers mobilised from Kota Baru, Kubang Kerian and parts of Selangor.
“Our ability to coordinate our work at the main election operation centre can take us to achieve greater heights with new politics where racism and narrow religious sentiments have no place,” he said today.
Meanwhile, Penang Pertubuhan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (PasMa) chairman Zolkifly Md Lazim said PR’s victory showed that there should not be anymore obstacles to stop the opposition pact from reaching Putrajaya.
“When PAS set up posts to campaign together with PR in Kampung Pelet and Guar Jering, where BN has strong support, it was a very positive sign.
“(This shows that) no element can jeopardise PR. The coalition can overcome anything, whether it is hudud or any other issue that causes unhappiness among the parties.
“Anwar has left a clear vision for the voters here and PR has succeeded,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
Zolkifly also said he was happy with the pro-PR PasMa’s work on the ground as its volunteers had successfully convinced leaders such as preachers with many followers to support PR. – May 7, 2015.
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