Mahkota by-election: PN's victory would be hard, but not impossible - Samsuri

KUALA TERENGGANU - Pas vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar acknowledged that Perikatan Nasional (PN) is facing significant challenges in winning the Mahkota state by-election.

The Terengganu Menteri Besar said although the previous majority win for the Mahkota state seat was quite significant, the party will do its best to win the seat.

"We acknowledge the challenge of winning that seat but will try.

"I don't want to say "underdog" because like I said, the challenge is big and we will try.

"On paper, the majority received by the previous winner was quite large and we are aware of the situation now and the challenge.

"It is not easy to achieve victory, but nothing is impossible," he said.

He was speaking to reporters when met at the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Terengganu Islamic Foundation at the Al-Fateh Hall, Yayasan Islam Tower, on Tuesday.

Commenting further, Samsuri said that the Pas machinery deployed to assist the campaign has been functioning well so far.

"Many are helping out...we are focusing on the polling centres, and there is one centre that involves over 6,000 voters," he said.

The Mahkota by-election is being held following the death of its incumbent, Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 64, on Aug 2.

It will see a contest between Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah and PN candidate Mohamad Haizan Jaafar.

In the 2022 state election, Sharifah won with a majority of 5,166 votes in a four-way contest, involving candidates from Pakatan Harapan (PH), PN and Warisan.