![[UPDATED] Perikatan wins Padang Serai poll by over 16,000 votes](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/_large/Azman_Nasrudin_Padang_Serai_Bernama_20221202.jpg)
KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Datuk Azman Nasrudin has thrashed Pakatan Harapan (PH) in its Padang Serai stronghold by winning the parliamentary by-election with a 16,260-vote majority.
The Election Commission (EC) announced that Azman garnered a total of 51,637 votes, with PH’s Mohamad Sofee Razak trailing far behind with 35,377 votes.
Azman’s supporters had earlier taken to the streets to celebrate before the official result was confirmed by the EC.
In third is Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Datuk C. Sivarraajh, who received 2,983 votes, followed by independent Sreanandha Rao (846), Pejuang’s Hamzah Abd Rahman (424), and Warisan’s Mohd Bakhri Hashim (149).
By 10.45pm, an EC official had declared victory for Azman.
In his victory speech, Azman thanked the PN leadership, including Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, for believing in him as the coalition’s candidate for Padang Serai.
“I also believe that this decision is a clear message from the people of Malaysia and the Padang Serai community who reject the PH-BN government and kleptocratic government and who reject the appointment of Datuk Seri (Ahmad) Zahid Hamidi, who faces corruption charges, as DPM1 (deputy prime minister),” he said.
“It is also a clear message that the new prime minister should be cautious as the people would always judge the decisions he makes.”
On Twitter, Sofee conceded the election and congratulated his PN opponent for the victory.
“Thank you to all of the PH community for their efforts in assisting me. Thank you to the Pdg Serai community for their reception throughout my campaign,” he said.
“We will try again, god-willing.”
Tahniah saya ucapkan kepada YB Datuk Azman Nasrudin atas kemenangan di Pdg Serai.
— DR. SOFEE RAZAK, Ph.D. (@MOHAMADSOFEE) December 7, 2022
Tkasih diucapkan kepada semua warga PH yg telah bertungkus lumus membantu saya. Tkasih juga kpd warga Pdg Serai atas sambutan baik sepanjang saya berkempen.
Kita cuba lagi insyaallah.
Voting in Padang Serai was postponed following the death of incumbent and PH candidate M. Karupaiya three days before polling day.
On December 2, BN agreed to give way to PH in the contest for the parliamentary seat. – The Vibes, December 7, 2022
