BN’s Defeat Does Not Mean Rejection Of Najib, Says Hishammuddin

(Bernama) — The Barisan Nasional's failure to wrest back the Bukit Selambau seat from the opposition does not mean the people's rejection of the country's new leadership, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said.

He said there were several local and national factors which contributed to the BN's loss.

"That (people's rejection of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as new prime minister) is not the case because he has only just taken over the leadership of the country and has not even announced his cabinet line-up yet.

"Give us some time. We'll prove that BN's politics is not sensational or seasonal and centred on certain issues only, but a struggle that is consistent and takes into consideration the needs and aspirations of the people," he said when commenting on the BN's failure to recapture the Bukit Selambau state seat in today's by-election at the BN election operations room here tonight.

He added that the defeat also served as a useful lesson for the BN to face the 13th general election, which must be held by 2012.

Also present were Kedah Umno chief Datuk Mahdzir Khalid and the BN's candidate, Datuk S. Ganesan.

Ganesan, who appeared downcast, said he accepted the result although it did not favour him and the BN.

"We will continue to serve the people and fulfil the pledges that we have made to them," he said.