The results of the Manek Urai by-election in Kelantan is a mandate for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's leadership, said political analysts.

Despite the constituency being a PAS stronghold in a PAS-controlled state, the Islamic party however managed to only scrap through with a mere 65-vote majority.

The victory comes just two days after Najib had marked his 100th day in office.

Below is what the political analysts had to say.

Prof Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, Director of the Institute of the Malay World and Civilization

The slim majority is a good sign for Barisan Nasional. It's a good sign for the prime minister as well.

dr shamsul amri The slim majority reflects that in the PAS heartland there is something good that Najib is offering. It is a fantastic sign.

Local issues are not dominant any more. If it was, then PAS would have won with a bigger majority. So we can derive that this is reflective of Najib’s leadership.

Coming fresh out of the Merdeka Center poll, people feel good about Najib’s performance as prime minister. Even if they do support PAS, they get nothing effective in return.

Farish A Noor, senior fellow at Singapore's Nanyang Technology University (NTU)

It can be read that it is a vindication for Najib’s leadership. Like what was revealed in the Merdeka Center polls, Najib has managed to go beyond 70 percent with Malay support.

dap islamic state roundtable 100807 farish noor He has managed to push for Malay/Muslim unity. At the same time, he has introduced reforms to the New Economy Policy (NEP).

Both of these seem contradictory but Najib has somehow managed to do this. PAS also has to do some soul searching. PAS grassroots members are conservative Malay Muslims even if some leaders are moderate.

In spite, of Kelantan being a stronghold of the 'Erdogan' faction, the slim majority may be a vindication to the pro-unity talks fraction lead by (president) Abdul Hadi Awang and (deputy president) Nasharuddin Mat Isa.

Prof Emeritus Khoo Kay Kim, University Malaya

I was told at the ground level that PAS would have no problems winning, but Pakatan has performed so badly in Penang, Perak and Selangor.

khoo kay kim anti auku gma 141006 pointing Barisan is in recovery... the whole trouble is given the opportunities the opposition was given, they have done nothing to look after the people.

Day and night, they are quarrelling about issues that should have been discussed before the alliance was formed.

Look at what Najib is saying, it sounds good and all he need is to line up the right people, and the reliable people he takes on would be able to help him establish good grounds.

All the infighting in Pakatan looks bad in the eyes of the public and the people are aware that they are not thinking of the public as each of them have their own agendas.

James Chin, Monash University political analyst

It cannot be seen as a 'yes' or 'no' for Najib's leadership because Kelantanese politics is very localised and Najib's (promises and policies) are national factors.

The results are similar to the results in 2004. PAS only won with a majority of 53 then. The factor that could have caused the effect is probably money. The people were promised of a new bridge if BN won.

But a slim win is still a win, although the margin is small. So there is nothing for BN to celebrate, this is simply the reaffirmation of the results in 2004.