TAPAH — The Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate’s victory in the Ayer Kuning state by-election is evidence of voters’ support for the stable politics of the federal unity government, and rejection of the opposition’s slander and division, said BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders.
BN also made gains as 10 out of 11 District Voting Centres (PDM) that were lost to the opposition in the last general election, have now returned to the BN fold,
BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pointed out.
In a statement on Facebook, he said the result is a sign of the people’s support for the unity government in Perak under the leadership of Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, and for the federal government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
That 10 out of 11 PDM had return to BN was a sign that voters are also “wiser” in their judgement, Zahid added.
“They rejected the politics of hatred and chose stability, progress and credible leadership.
“It is a strong signal that the unity government is accepted because it is able to manage the state and country well, based on the principles of unity, development and the well-being of the people,” he said.
BN successfully retained the Ayer Kuning seat after its candidate, Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir, secured victory in the three-cornered fight with a 5,006-vote majority.
The Tapah Umno secretary, also known as Ustaz Yusri, garnered 11,065 votes to defeat Abd Muhaimin Malek of Perikatan Nasional (PN), who scored 6,059 votes and Bawani KS of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), who obtained only 1,106 votes.
Meanwhile, Saarani Mohamad, who is also Perak BN Chairman, said BN and PH should continue to foster stability and unity now that voters have accepted their partnership in government.
He thanked the efforts of all parties, including the BN and PH machinery for their hard work throughout the campaign period.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, meanwhile said the result reflected BN’s continued success in gaining the people’s support after the Nenggiri (Kelantan) and Mahkota (Johor) by-elections.
“This victory proves that the people reject politics based on hatred, hostility, insults and extreme racial sentiments,” he said.
Umno Information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the victory demonstrated the strength of cooperation within the unity government and the people’s recognition of ongoing efforts to develop the Ayer Kuning state constituency.
She said it was also clear evidence that the people continued to place their trust in BN to carry on the development agenda and leadership continuity pioneered by the late Ishsam Shahruddin, the former Ayer Kuning assemblyman.
“I am confident that Dr Mohamad Yusri will fulfil this trust with utmost dedication and responsibility,” she said in a statement.
Meanwhile, DAP National Political Education director Howard Lee Chuan How said the victory proved the success of the unity government formula, which would continue to be maintained.
“This victory highlights that in the future, any form of cooperation in administration or elections will be based on this (formula) to defeat anything that stands against the unity of the people in Malaysia,” he said.
Perak Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) chairman Datuk Asmuni Awi said today’s victory was a clear indication that the people had rejected parties or political coalitions that played on racial sentiments.
Newly-elected Ayer Kuning assemblyman Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir meanwhile pledged to carry out his duties with dedication.
He said his immediate priority is to begin work on implementing the pledges he made to improve the well-being of constituents.
“Insya-Allah, everything we’ve committed to in the manifesto will be pursued until it reaches a level that brings comfort and benefit to the people of Ayer Kuning,” he told reporters after the announcement of the results of the by-election at Dewan Merdeka here last night.
Also known as Ustaz Yusri, he said he plans to begin his post-election outreach by visiting his hometown of Kampung Tersusun Haji Tahir in Temoh on Sunday morning to meet constituents. – April 27, 2025