Bagan Pinang – Umno big win weakens the PAS
The PAS has accepted its defeat in the Bagan Pinang state by-election but has named postal votes as a factor for its failure to wrest away the Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold.
However, observers believe the PAS was pretty left on its own to feel how it is to be ‘trashed’ by UMNO’s powerful machinery. The same observers believe if the PKR had fiielded a candidate, the margin of victory of the UMNO would have been lesser but this is now history and nothing will prove such a theory unless the PKR fields its candidate at Bagan Pinang in the next G.E.
On the other hand, the UMNO is reeling in victory with the big win against the PAS and the Pakatan in the by-election, a win that will surely bring back the confidence of the BN.
The Bagan Pinang election is a real turn around for the BN since it will give the coalition the belief that it is abck in the popular ratings and it can now face-off Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan anytime. The Bagan Pinang is also a stepping stone for the BN to launch its campaign in Sarawak for the next Parliamentary elections in the state. The large victory will be publicized in such a way as to portray a return of the Indians, the Chinese and the bulk of the Malay community to the BN.
It will also be possible that a big win by the BN in Sarawak will also trigger the idea that a ‘snap’ General Electons in Malaysia may give the BN a bigger win and get back its 2/3rd majority that is now missing in the National Parliament.
The BN’s pattern is now seen as follows:
