|
Malaysia Ruling Coalition Wins Key By-election
 |
|
A supporter of the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS).
|
KUALA
LUMPUR, December 7 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - The ruling
National Front coalition won a key by-election in Malaysia's Muslim
heartland after 15 years under the control of the Pan-Malaysia Islamic
Party (PAS).
The
results came after a recount Wednesday, December 7, narrowly beating
the Islamic party that rules Kelantan state, Agence France-Presse
(AFP) said.
The
recount in Tuesday's poll for the Pengkalan Pasir state assembly seat
showed the coalition, which controls the federal government and every
other state, winning by 134 votes.
Coalition
leaders hailed the results as a victory for their moderate brand of
Islam, which promotes development, against the policies of the PAS.
Religion
is "not the real issue for people here," Annuar Musa, who
heads the National Front's main party the United Malays National
Organization (UMNO) in the northeastern state, told AFP.
"That
is not the priority. The religious policies they (PAS) have put into
action are extremely inconsistent and are implemented on an ad hoc
basis. They are just gimmicks," he said, adding that people
wanted "progress and development."
PAS
has controlled Kelantan since 1990 but it suffered a drubbing in last
year's elections, coming within a whisker of losing to Prime Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's UMNO-led National Front.
PAS
clung on to the state assembly with 24 seats against the coalition's
21. It now has a majority of just one seat, which will make it hard to
rule effectively and pass legislation.
Shift
in Confidence
Malaysia’s
Bernama News Agency said that voters were not convinced on PAS' stand
against Islam Hadhari advocated by the prime minister.
Islam
Hadhari is the brainchild of Malaysian Badawi, who maintains it is derived
from the core principles and teachings of Islam.
The
concept has the capacity to generate strength for a nation because it
gave emphasis to various matters including knowledge, economy,
culture, moral values and defence, he believes.
Former
emblematic premier Mahathir Mohamad said Wednesday that there was a
shift in the Kelantan people's confidence towards the Barisan Nasional
(BN).
"We
are happy as the BN has won although the votes had to be
recounted," he said.
"Change"
One
UMNO leader in the state said the victory reflected Kelantanese'
desire for change after 15 years under PAS rule.
"People
want change," Alwi Che Ahmad told Reuters. "The days of PAS
are numbered."
But
political analyst Sayuti Omar, who is a Kelantan native, said the
coalition's win was not a "clear signal by the electorate that
they wanted change."
"It's
a very slim majority so I think the desire for change amongst the
electorate is not that pronounced," he said.
PAS
was under "serious pressure this time, especially due to the
ruling coalition's last-ditch efforts and tactics," he added,
pointing to allegations the ruling party had trucked in extra voters
-- so-called "phantom voters" -- to the electorate.
Deputy
Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was prominent in the election
campaign, denied the accusations.
|
