Sg Bakap Elections: Perikatan’s victory is a sign of people’s protest against federal government policies, says Abidin

NIBONG TEBAL: The Perikatan Nasional Party’s victory in the Sungai Bakap by-election with a large majority is an expression of people’s protest against the federal government’s policies that are oppressing the people, says Abidin Ismail.

Abidin, 56, won a convincing victory, securing 14,489 votes while his PKR opponent Dr Joohari Ariffin secured 10,222 votes.

“First of all, I would like to express my sincere thanks. God gave victory to Perikatan, partly due to the support of friends and machines across Malaysia,” he told reporters after being announced the winner of the by-election at the Jawi Multipurpose Hall on Saturday (July 6) evening.

He added that he felt grateful after winning the by-election, in which he obtained a larger majority of 4,267 votes.

He also expressed his sincere thanks to the Perikatan leadership for their confidence in him as the opposition coalition candidate.

He added that as the new Sungai Bakap assemblyman, his attention was now focused on the issue of water scarcity in the constituency, especially in Sub-District 5.

PAS deputy president Datuk Idris Ahmad said the Perikatan machine was formed to fight the powerful government apparatus and not a political party.

“If it was a game against a game, I think they could have lost their deposit.

“This time we are fighting with the party against the entire government machine, with all its strength,” he said.