Thousands turned up in Dulang Kechil tonight to welcome their new hero Mohd Azam Samat who just won Sg Limau, retaining the state seat for PAS for the sixth time.

The muddy fields at the PAS Youth operations centre was filled to the brim, with the crowd standing at the road side to hear Azam's maiden speech tonight.

Azam, 37, takes over from the late Azizan Abdul Razak, the former Kedah menteri besar, who died on Sept 26. He will be sworn in as the new Sg Limau assemblyman at the Kedah legislative assembly on Nov 18.

pas youth protest against egypt coup mohamad mat sabuIn his speech, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu (right) said the party had to fight two governments - state and federal - led by BN at this by-election, in a campaign which started on Oct 23.

"They brought everyone and everything down here. Ducks and cows as well," said Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, drawing laughter from the crowd.

According to PAS, BN has dished out about RM15 million in allocations during the campaign, including RM5.5 million to religious secondary schools, RM2.25 million to Chinese national-type schools, and RM1.2 million to 12 other schools.

The BN government had also given out RM1.18 million on homes (for Felda settlers) and free spectacles, RM1 million to repair houses, RM802,700 to the Bantuan Azam Tani Mara programme, RM2.5 million for artificial reefs and RM500,000 for fishing jetties.

The amount does not include RM300,000 to the Simpang Empat mosque, RM118,000 in handouts to Kafa (religious pre-school) teachers and 33 other mosques, RM30,000 in Tekun loans and RM19,700 Agrobank tithe (zakat).

In his speech, Azam said the people of Sg Limau has given a clear message to the government that PAS must continue its struggles here.

"We won because of our faith in Allah. This is also why all our friends also came and helped us," he said, thanking the party's allies - DAP and PKR - for helping out in the 12-day campaign.

"The message is clear that PAS must continue with its message of Islam. We will pray and continue this struggle for the coming 14th general elections," he added, referring to the election that is expected to be called by 2018.

Meaningful gift

PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar described the victory as a meaningful gift from Allah as today is Maal Hijrah, the Muslim new year.

"I was very worried because it was a challenge to me as PAS commissioner for Kedah to lead this by-election especially when we are fighting two governments," he said.

"The BN said this is a moral loss for us because we had a lower majority - 1,804 instead of 2,774 in the May 5 elections.

"Let me tell you if 1,000 outstation people can come back and vote, we will get almost same majority as the last election," he added.

Mahfuz said BN treated voters to all kinds of bribes, from chickens to spectacles, cooking oil, mango plants and "expired" milk.

"Still they can't penetrate Sg Limau, which has remained a PAS stronghold."