Suhaizan's victory in Pulai shows voters recognise PH-BN cooperation

JOHOR BAHRU - Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Suhaizan Kaiat who won the Pulai parliamentary by-election tonight described his victory as proof of acceptance by the constituents on Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) cooperation.

The former Johor State Assembly Speaker said PH’s success in the parliamentary constituency showed he has to shoulder a heavy responsibility and pledged to duly carry out his duties as an elected representative.

"The victory of the Unity Government in Pulai is a trust by voters and Allah. I thanked all voters for putting their confidence in me as their MP and also thanked all members of the party machinery for assisting from day one to the polling day.

"The close cooperation of the PH and BN machinery and all the parties gave victory in Pulai. This is a convincing majority for the government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim," he said when met by reporters after the announcement of the results of the Pulai parliamentary by-election at the counting centre in Sultan Ibrahim Diamond Jubilee Hall here tonight.

In the by-election, Suhaizan who is also Johor Amanah vice chairman won the Pulai parliamentary seat with a majority of 18,641 votes by defeating Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Zulkifli Jaafar and Independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi.

In this regard, Suhaizan expressed his gratefulness, for his first ever victory with a convincing majority, thus proving that the 'green wave' will not occur in Johor.

"This victory is proof of strong support for us, the PN wave in Johor did not happen and we have explained to the voters that it is important to choose government stability, for the sake of national economic development.

"In fact, this is not a vote of sympathy given by voters, rather it is proof of support for the government," he said.

Regarding the low voter turnout, he said it was normal in any by-election and it was also affected by unfavourable weather conditions which discouraged some voters from going out to vote.

Earlier, Suhaizan who was accompanied by his wife Dr Norsham Idris and Amanah vice president Datuk Mahfuz Omar, arrived at the vote tallying centre in Sultan Ibrahim Diamond Jubilee Hall at 8.50 pm.

Suhaizan started contesting in elections since 2004, however he did not win in the five state seats and one parliamentary seat he was fielded.

Among the state assembly seats he had contested were in Kempas, Kukup and Pulai Sebatang, while the parliamentary seat was in Simpang Renggam.

The Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections were held following the death of the incumbent Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub who was also the Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living on July 23. - BERNAMA