BENTONG - Pahang Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah said PN maintains a positive stance despite losing in the Pelangai by-election, citing the coalition's increased popular vote and youth support.
Saifuddin said PN's popular vote increased by 11.8 per cent compared to the 15th general election (GE15), while Barisan Nasional's (BN) increased by 3.5 per cent.
"However, when you combine the votes for BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) in GE15, it decreased by 11.5 per cent.
"The estimated Malay support for PN increased by 14 per cent, while BN decreased by 8 per cent.
"In conclusion, PN once again proves that we are capable of replacing Umno-BN and winning the hearts of the youth, while Umno-BN is seen relying on DAP-PH," he said.
Saifuddin also said PN won in the Felda areas, and Malay support was increasing.
He added that despite a voter turnout of 72.1 per cent, which is 6 per cent lower than GE15, the Pelangai voters should be commended because this figure is still high in the context of elections, and higher than some other by-elections.
"We (PN) won two out of three Polling Districts in Felda, namely Sungai Kemasul (with a majority of 295) and Sungai Kemahal (with a majority of 5).
"Although we lost in Felda Chemomoi (-182), when you combine the votes from all three Polling Districts, PN received 3,038 votes compared to BN's 2,920 (a majority of 118).
"This means that PN won the overall vote in Felda, and the plantation land is no longer a stronghold of Umno-BN," he said.