SHAH ALAM - Political analyst Dr G. Manimaran claims that Umno's strategy, rather than that of the broader Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, was pivotal in the recent Nenggiri by-election.
In an interview with Sinar Daily, Manimaran said that the victory of Umno candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani was anticipated due to the effectiveness of Umno's machinery.
"The victory was expected. Umno's machinery proved highly effective, from rural to urban areas, including in Nenggiri," he said.
He praised Umno for mobilising its resources extensively for the by-election, emphasising the importance of this strategic focus.
"Umno mobilised its machinery to the highest level from all states, concentrating on the Nenggiri by-election, which was crucial given the need for strong moral support," he added.
Manimaran also pointed out that the by-election results reflected Umno's revival and its ability to address previous election issues.
He credited the return of experienced Umno members for their success.
"During the previous general elections, Umno faced setbacks in Nenggiri, with some supporters not casting their votes.
"However, they managed to overcome these challenges in the by-election," he added.
He compared Umno’s performance in Nenggiri to its successes in the Pelangai and Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) by-elections, attributing these wins to similar strategic efforts.
"This success is a result of Umno's strategy, not BN’s.
"The victories in Pelangai and KKB were driven by Umno's focused efforts," Manimaran said.
He also stated that the margin of victory in Nenggiri was notably larger than expected.
"The majority was more than 2,000 votes, exceeding expectations.
"Umno securing a lead of 1,000 votes more than anticipated indicated a significant shift, reflecting a return of support to Umno and BN," he said.
BN’s win in Nenggiri is the first time since GE15 that a seat has changed hands.