Once a BN stronghold, Pahang left hanging as no party wins simple majority

KUANTAN: The results of the election for the Pahang state assembly seats which was held concurrently with the 15th General Election (GE15) on Saturday saw the state that was once regarded as Barisan Nasional’s (BN) ‘fixed deposit’ reeling without a majority to form the government, for the first time.

Based on the election results announced by the Election Commission, Perikatan Nasional (PN) won 17 seats, one more than BN with 16, while Pakatan Harapan (PH) managed to win eight seats.

In Pahang, 42 state assembly seats were contested with the exception of Tioman where the election was withheld due to the sudden demise of PN candidate Md Yunus Ramli, 61, early Saturday, forcing the EC to reschedule the date to Dec 7.

PN won in Cheka, Tanjung Lumpur, Luit, Chenor, Bukit

Ibam, Kuala Sentul, Tahan, Damak, Pulau Tawar, Jengka, Beserah, Pulau Manis, Lanchang, Kuala Semantan, Panching, Lepar and Sungai Lembing.

BN won in Inderapura, Benta, Jenderak, Padang Tengku, Batu Talam, Kemayan, Jelai, Guai, Kerdau, Dong, Muadzam Shah, Peramu Jaya, Chini. Pelangai, Bebar and Sabai which was previously under PH.

PH was victorious in Tanah Rata, Tras, Triang, Mentakab, Bilut, Ketari, Semambu and Teruntum.

Caretaker menteri besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail defended his Jelai seat for the fi h term with a 6,983-vote majority against PN’s Dr Abdul Rasid Mohamed who managed 3,109 votes, while PH candidate Ismail Mohd Hussin lost his deposit a er managing just 1,464 votes.

Meanwhile, all 13 candidates fielded by Pejuang lost their deposits in Pahang.

In the election for parliamentary seats, PN fared extremely well by winning four seats previously held by BN, namely Kuala Krau, Maran, Jerantut and Rompin while also winning Kuantan, Indera Mahkota and Temerloh.

BN managed to win only five parliamentary seats in Pahang, including Bera which was won by caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. The others were Lipis, Paya Besar, Cameron Highlands and Pekan while PH retained Raub and Bentong.

Pahang PN chief Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah retained the Indera Mahkota seat while former MCA president Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai, who made a comeback, lost in Bentong to DAP’s Young Syefura Othman or be er known as Rara. — Bernama