Penanti.......

N12: PENANTI : 15,384
1. Mansor Othman (PKR) 6,052 votes
2. Aminah Abdullah (Independent) 392 votes
3. Nai Khan Ari a/l Nai Keow (Independent) 494 votes
4. Kamarul Ramizu Idris (Independent) 56 votes

Total voters : 7,100

Percentage voter turnout : 46.15%

Spoilt votes : 106 votes

Majority : 5,558 votes

Incumbent : Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin (PKR)

Majority : 2,219 votes

The Penanti by-election verdict is out and creates a record of all sorts;

1. a first for BN on the decision not to compete in the by-election,
2. Lowest turnout i.e. 46%,
3. Even with a lower voter turnout, a higher majority was secured as compared to the previous General Election and
4. Less chaos and police presence required. (savings for the public funds)

DPM’s statement that the low turnout shows UMNO still have influence over the Penanti constituency with claims that they had influenced the Malays to refrain from voting may not hold weight.

However, the reasons remain subjective but as to the reason, I chose to think that;

1. the low turnout was to save BN from a bigger shame as the voters in the constituency all know that PKR would win hands down given the token resistance from the Independent candidates especially a particular “Aminah”,
2. with the above thoughts, voters working outside Penanti would also have decided not to make that extra trip back to vote and
3. making the trip back to vote would be at their own expense as BN would not be around to subsidize their travel allowance.

Onwards to Manik Urai, Kelantan, it would be a battle between PAS (PR) and UMNO (BN) again and this would further provide an indication if the public perception of the BN Government had changed.

It is unlikely that it would change much and could result in a bigger disappointment for BN judging from Najib’s 100 days in power which shows nothing to shout about except for the seditious arrests, increasing crime rate, building collapse, PKFZ, not forgetting Altantuya remained a shadow of doubt cast upon Najib’s capability.