KUALA LUMPUR – Claims by certain groups blaming Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali for the coalition's recent defeat in the Mahkota by-election are merely personal opinions.
Bersatu permanent chairman Akmal Zahin Zainal Zahir said while everyone has their own opinions, election results ultimately depend on the voters' decisions.
"The claim is just one individual's opinion. The party's wing was actively on the ground for a month leading up to the by-election.
"Members in Johor gave their full commitment, but in the end, the by-election outcome is determined by the voters," he said during a press conference, today.
Previously, a news portal reported that two opposition leaders claimed that Azmin played a role in the coalition's defeat in the Mahkota by-election.
Quoting sources, it was alleged that the Hulu Kelang assemblyman failed to efficiently mobilise the coalition's campaign machinery.
It was also alleged that PN's operations centre did not communicate with the coalition's election workers from outside Johor during the campaign.
In the Mahkota by-election, PN candidate Mohamad Haizan Jaafar secured 7,347 votes, while Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah received 27,995 votes.
BN's majority of 20,648 votes was four times greater than the majority the coalition had achieved in the 2022 state election.