[UPDATED] GE15: Perikatan makes major inroads in polls

KUALA LUMPUR – Despite its lead party Bersatu losing members and MPs, Perikatan Nasional (PN) has made stunning inroads into Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) strongholds in the 15th general election.

With a current tally of 73 federal seats according to Bernama’s count, PN is neck and neck with PH, which currently has 78 seats. There are 222 parliamentary seats.

PN, with key components such as Bersatu and PAS, has swept all three parliamentary seats in Perlis, and with sizeable majorities. PN has likely been helped here by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s decision to axe veteran incumbents as candidates.

In Arau, where ex-Umno warlord Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim contested on a PN ticket, his majority is 23,216. PN’s majorities in Padang Besar is 12,514 and in Kangar, 9,192.

At the state level, PN has also taken 14 state seats in Perlis, leaving just one – Indera Kayangan – to PH.

In Kedah, PN has won in 13 parliamentary seats, sweeping those previously held by BN (Padang Terap and Baling), as well as PH seats (Alor Star, Kuala Kedah, Merbok, Sg Petani, Kulim-Bandar Baharu and Pokok Sena) and those won by PH-Bersatu in 2018 (Langkawi, Kubang Pasu and Jerlun).

In Penang, PN swept BN seats Kepala Batas (12,252 majority) and Tasik Gelugor, and also dethroned “Reformation Princess” Nurul Izzah Anwar in her family’s stronghold of Permatang Pauh.

In Perak, PN also won 26 out of 59 state seats and is poised to negotiate with other coalitions to form the state government.

PN has also made inroads into the northern Selangor parliamentary seats that used to be Umno areas, such as Sabak Bernam (majority 5,056), Sg Besar, and Tg Karang. It has also taken the PKR seat of Hulu Selangor. 

In Johor, PN chairman and former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin defended the Pagoh parliamentary seat with a 10,007 majority. The coalition also took Mersing by a majority of 2,337 votes over BN, its closest rival.

In Pahang, PN has taken over the BN seats of Jerantut, Kuala Krau, Maran, and Rompin, as well as Kuantan, a PH seat since 2008. 

Its Indera Mahkota incumbent, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, who party-hopped from PKR to Bersatu in the Sheraton Move, retained the seat by 8,399 votes.

PN’s narrative in the GE15 campaign has been to present itself as an alternative to BN and PH, and this may have worked with Malay voters upset with BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and who do not support PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

PN component PAS, which contested using its own logo in Kelantan and Terengganu where it is the state government, also won all 14 parliamentary seats in Kelantan and all eight federal seats in Terengganu. – The Vibes, November 20, 2022