PAS Youth: Reduced majority in Ayer Kuning warning to BN

Summary

• PAS Youth claims the reduced majority in Ayer Kuning signals eroding public confidence in BN.

• It notes no significant vote transfer from Pakatan Harapan supporters to BN, with turnout among Chinese voters notably declining.

• PN urged to strengthen its check-and-balance role and carry grassroots aspirations into the Perak assembly.

The shrinking majority in the Ayer Kuning by-election is a warning to BN that public confidence in the coalition is steadily eroding, claimed PAS Youth.

Although Ayer Kuning has long been a BN stronghold, the reduced margin is an early sign of a shifting political tide that must not be taken lightly, said PAS Youth election director Sukri Omar.

In a statement last night, Sukri (above) said the result reflects several important realities that warrant serious attention, particularly by the state and federal governments.

“The confidence expressed by the Perak menteri besar, predicting a major ‘vote transfer’ wave that could achieve an 18,000 majority, has proven to be far off the mark.

“In reality, Perikatan Nasional has remained steadfast, maintaining a core support base of approximately 5,000 to 6,000 voters, demonstrating that grassroots backing for PN remains strong and unshaken despite the heavy pressure exerted by the government machinery,” he added.

BN’s win not resounding

BN’s Yusri Bakir won the state seat with a majority of 5,006 votes after securing 11,065 votes, defeating PN’s Abd Muhaimin Malek (6,059 votes) and PSM’s Bawani KS (1,106 votes).

In the 2022 general election, BN and Pakatan Harapan combined secured 68 percent of the vote. However, the Madani coalition only obtained 60.7 percent in this by-election - a decline of over seven percentage points.

Sukri also noted that there has been no significant transfer of votes from Harapan supporters to BN. Instead, he said, the people have collectively sent a signal of rejection towards the performance of both the state and federal governments.

“More notably, the drop in voter turnout among Chinese voters shows that Harapan’s core supporters themselves are unwilling to shift their support to BN, delivering a very clear message of rejection towards the political cooperation between the two parties,” he added.

In light of this, Sukri urged PN to continue strengthening its role of checks and balances in the Perak legislative assembly.

“All the issues raised during the Ayer Kuning by-election campaign - many of which were denied by the state government - must continue to be championed to ensure that the people’s voice is not drowned out in the assembly.

“Especially with BN’s dominance in the state government, the people’s hopes now rest upon the PN assemblypersons to carry forth the real aspirations and hardships of the rakyat.

“PAS asserts that PN will remain steadfast in fighting for the people’s rights, defending the welfare of all groups, and building public confidence towards a greater wave of change in the coming general election,” Sukri stressed.

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