Victorious Azmawi vows to serve all Nenggiri constituents

NENGGIRI POLLS | Polling for the Nenggiri by-election has closed and vote counting is underway.

The contest is a straight fight between BN candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani and Perikatan Nasional’s Mohd Rizwadi Ismail.

Malaysiakini brings you live updates from the ground.

Victorious candidate vows to serve all Nenggiri constituents

10.44pm: BN’s victorious candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani vows to serve all Nenggiri constituents regardless of their political affiliation.

“Starting from this very second, I will serve everyone in Nenggiri regardless of their political affiliation and do my very best.

“Honestly, I did not expect to win like this (bigger margin),” he says at a press conference.

Also present are Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and Kelantan Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub.

Jazlan says BN’s strategy of announcing their candidate early had worked to their advantage.

“Our victory also shows the Malays still back BN. Plus, BN’s strategy in announcing our candidate early helped us reach out to voters earlier than others,” he says.

Kelantan MB: We’ll continue to serve Nenggiri residents

10.40pm: Kelantan Menteri Besar Mohd Nassuruddin Daud says his administration will continue to look into the welfare of Nenggiri residents despite his coalition’s loss in today’s by-election.

“We respect the decision made by voters and the state government will continue with our programmes and schemes.

“Ultimately, we will always prioritise the people’s needs and their welfare.”

After today’s result, the Kelantan state legislative assembly is made up of representatives from PAS (37), Bersatu (five), Umno (two), and Amanah (one).

Zahid: Huge responsibility lies ahead

10.25pm: BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reminds coalition leaders, including victor Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, that today’s by-election win comes with a huge responsibility.

“It’s a huge responsibility which we would try to fulfil to the best of our ability,” he says.

Zahid also thanks BN’s Nenggiri election coordinator Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Kelantan Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, and all parties in the coalition government for their efforts in the polls.

“And I hope this victory will spearhead greater success for us in the future.”

Amanah president Mohamad Sabu says his party will help its partners to win the upcoming Mahkota by-election.

Divisive politics no longer works - DAP leader

9.35pm: Johor DAP vice-chairperson Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali congratulates his BN allies for winning the Nenggiri polls, adding that divisive politics by Perikatan Nasional, such as calling others infidels, has been rejected.

“This also shows people are confident of the coalition government’s measures in rejuvenating the economy, fostering unity, and formulating good policies.

“Voters want development and unity as espoused by the government,” Umar says, adding the win will boost the government’s chances of retaining the Mahkota seat.

Official results: BN wins Nenggiri with increased vote share

9.30pm: It’s official, BN has won the Nenggiri by-election with 9,091 votes.

Perikatan Nasional, meanwhile, bagged 5,739 votes. BN’s vote share in the by-election is 61.3 percent, up from 46.7 percent last year.

The final turnout was 73.9 percent.

Fadhli congratulates BN, throws shade

8.35pm: PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari congratulates BN for its apparent win in the Nenggiri polls.

Taking to Facebook, he also praises Perikatan Nasional’s machinery for their tireless work and urges them to look at the by-election as “training” to face the next polls.

However, he does not waste the chance to throw shade at BN, calling the government to declare the six seats held by rogue PN MPs as vacant, if it is confident enough to do so.

“BN is getting stronger and Nenggiri is now theirs. Surely the government won’t hesitate now to declare the six seats vacant and let BN contest them.

“That is, of course, if they are confident that they have actually regained their strength.”

BN’s tally shows it won 17 out of 20 polling districts

8.20pm: BN’s unofficial results indicate it won 17 out of 20 polling districts.

Of those, five were closely fought, namely Kuala Sungai, Bertam Lama, Jerek, Renok, and Limau Kasturi where they edged out Perikatan Nasional by around 50 votes or fewer.

PN, meanwhile, won in Ladang SEDC, Kesedar Limau Kasturi, and Pasir Tumboh.

Its majorities there were 84 votes in Ladang SEDC, 51 in Pasir Tumboh, and 25 in Kesedar Limau Kasturi.

PN concedes defeat

8.10pm: Perikatan Nasional’s operations director for the Nenggiri by-election Annuar Musa concedes defeat.

In a social media post, he congratulates BN.

“The people of Nenggiri have made their choice, we must respect the outcome,” he adds.

Unofficial: BN wins in first by-election seat-flip since GE15

7.35pm: BN captures Nenggiri from Perikatan Nasional according to unofficial results.

This is the first by-election since the 2022 general election that a seat has changed hands.

Malaysiakini estimates that BN has crossed the 50 percent vote threshold with 39 out of 47 polling districts accounted for.

BN is still leading by more than 2,800 votes as of writing, and PN is not expected to catch up.

At the BN war room, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki thanks Nenggiri voters for delivering the seat back to the coalition.

He also thanks former Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Kelantan Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub.

Unofficial: BN victory in Nenggiri imminent

7.25pm: BN is on course to win the Nenggiri state seat according to unofficial results.

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki is confident the win will become reality, “God willing”.

As of writing, BN is leading by more than 2,800 votes with 36 out of 47 polling streams accounted for.

According to BN’s unofficial results, the coalition has won back the Perasu and Limau Kasturi polling districts which it lost in the state election last year.

Unofficial: BN maintains strong lead

7.00pm: Unofficial results from BN’s camp indicate that the coalition is maintaining a strong lead with 20 out of 47 polling streams counted.

As of writing, BN is leading by almost 2,000 votes compared to PN.

Supporters stayed home, BN vote-buying rumour - PN leader

6.15pm: Perikatan Nasional leader Annuar Musa signals that his coalition may have suffered a significant drop in votes.

In a Facebook post, he claims over 2,000 PN voters did not go out to vote, alleging this was due to rumours that BN was buying votes.

He does not explain the correlation.

He further claims today’s higher turnout among voters may give an advantage to BN.

If Annuar’s claim about the turnout is true, PN may be losing the seat.

During last year’s state election, PN won the seat with just 810 more votes than BN.

Unofficial: BN wins all 6 Orang Asli polling districts

6.00pm: BN bags all six Orang Asli polling districts according to unofficial results.

The unofficial tally shows BN bagging 1,852 votes across the six districts - Kuala Sungai, Tohoi, Sungai Puian, Sungai Jenera, Simpor, and Sungai Wias.

PN, meanwhile, only secures 282 votes in these areas.

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