PAS hasn’t lost momentum despite defeat, says Dzulkefly

By Chua Sue-Ann, The Edge

PAS Bagan Pinang by-election operations chief Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad yesterday said Barisan Nasional’s (BN) victory in the Bagan Pinang polls did not reflect Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) future fortunes and PAS’ political momentum.

BN candidate Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad yesterday defeated PAS’ Zulkefly Mohamad Omar by a landslide 51.32% majority, which translates to 5,435 votes.

Isa, who was Negeri Sembilan menteri besar for 22 years, secured 8,013 votes against Zulkefly’s 2,578 votes in the contest.

Dzulkefly told The Edge Financial Daily the Bagan Pinang polls results “cannot be generalised and extended” to the rest of the country.

“We have not lost momentum,” said Dzulkefly, who is Kuala Selangor member of parliament.

PR, of which PAS is a coalition member, had won eight of the nine by-elections held after the 12th general election in March 2008.

Asked if this defeat would prompt changes in PAS’ strategy, Dzulkefly said the party would continue to campaign strongly against corruption and abuse of power.

PAS started out in the contest as the “underdog” and was convinced that the party could at least maintain its results, said Dzulkefly.

Dzulkefly added that PAS was faced with a gruelling eight-day campaign that was “overwhelmed by the fear factor and violence” as well as the postal votes, which he maintained was “far from transparent”.

We are ready to accept that Bagan Pinang voters may not be ready to support us. Bagan Pinang has got unique parameters.

“Having said that, this is an extremely sad day for the nation. BN may have won the battle here in Bagan Pinang but the nation has lost the battle against corruption,” he said, alluding to Isa’s disciplinary action by Umno for money politics in the 2004 party election.