KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) comfortably won two by-elections on Saturday (June 18), in a boost to embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak.

BN retained Sungai Besar in Selangor and Kuala Kangsar in Perak with majorities of 9,191 and 6,969 votes respectively, dealing a blow to the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition.

“I am grateful to the people for putting their faith in Barisan Nasional ‎again. As a mid-term government being targeted by unprecedented politically-motivated slander, we are especially humbled that we ‎received such landslide results,” Mr Najib wote in his blog early Sunday (June 19) morning.

Mr Najib also took a swipe at former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who had campaigned for the opposition for the first time in his political career as part of his wider bid to unseat Mr Najib.

“He campaigned for his former enemies in the opposition, dishonourably smearing his own party with crude language and claiming to speak on behalf of the people. But this betrayal was motivated by personal interest, not the national interest,” ‎wrote Mr Najib.
 
“Now, with these two huge majority wins, ‎and BN’s landslide 72 out of 82 seat Sarawak election win last month, the people have shown their confidence for and trust in BN. They rejected Tun Mahathir’s lies, they rejected his unworkable coalition of former enemies, and they rejected the incoherent opposition – partly because of their alignment with Tun Mahathir.‎”

Mr Najib added that under his leadership, he will ensure the interests of the people come first. “We will deliver on our promises to them. My priority will continue to be the economic welfare, social wellbeing and security of all Malaysians.” ‎

Dr Mahathir was instrumental in Mr Najib’s ascension to power but later declared openly that he was seeking to oust his handpicked successor, whom he accused of corruption.

Mr Najib has been under intense political pressure over RM2.6 billion (S$902 million) deposited into his private accounts, as well as irregularities in state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).  However, Mr Najib maintained he has not used the funds for personal gain, and has since been cleared of any criminal offence or corruption.

Failing to unseat Mr Najib through the ruling United Malays National Organisation, Dr Mahathir quit the party in late February and later announced an alliance with opposition leaders including the Democratic Action Party (DAP), whose leaders the latter had battled for decades during his time as prime minister.

BN leaders attributed the big electoral wins on Saturday to a swing in votes among Chinese voters.

“As the Barisan Nasional coordinator for the by-elections here and in Sungai Besar, I would like to thank the voters in Sungai Besar especially the Chinese voters … who gave their trust to the Barisan candidate,” said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, as quoted by The Star.

“Similarly to the Chinese voters in Kuala Kangsar who have also started to give their trust to Barisan,” he added. 

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai , who is President of BN component party the Malaysian Chinese Association, said the swing back of Chinese voters shows the community wants a moderate government.

"It means voters here want stability, economic growth and development," he told The Star.

"The voters voted for moderation unity and the Barisan spirit of consensus, to care for the welfare of all races." 

Sungai Besar saw a three-cornered fight. BN garnered 16,800 votes from the electorate, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) gained 6,902 votes while 7,609 votes went to its offshoot Parti Amanah Negara. 

“I was shocked today with the very big majority win tonight,” BN’s Budiman Mohd Zohdi told reporters after winning the Sungai Besar seat by a far greater margin than the 399 secured by his predecessor in the last elections.

Opposition Parti Amanah Negara sought to focus on the positives on its performance, with party president Mohamad Sabu likening the party’s defeat as winning a silver medal after the nine-month old party beat its Islamist rival PAS by 707 votes in Sungai Besar.

“We are a new party...been in Sungai Besar for just slightly over a month but we still managed to win more votes than PAS and that is an achievement. That is silver for us,” he told a news conference.

In Kuala Kangsar, the victorious BN candidate Mastura Mohd Yazid dedicated her by-election triumph to her late husband Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad, after succeeding him as Member of Parliment.

“Without his good work and love to the people of Kuala Kangsar, I wouldn’t have been a winner today,” said Ms Mastura, who won the by-election with 12,653 votes.  She defeated PAS’s Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad with 5,684 votes, Parti Amanah Negara’s Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli (4,883 votes), and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary (54 votes).

“I would like to thank the people here for allowing me to carry out the work which was left by my late husband,” she added.

The parliamentary by-election was held following the death of former Kuala Kangsar MP Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar, who was among the six people killed in the tragic helicopter crash at Sebuyau, Sarawak on May 5.

He had won by just a 1,082 majority in the 13th general elections against PAS’ Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah. Agencies.