Close Call For PAS In Manek Urai

Hmm, even I was surprised upon knowing the results of the Manek Urai by-election in Kelantan.

Of course, everyone expected all along that PAS would retain the state seat but not on a razor thin majority.

PAS edged Barisan Nasional (BN) with a mere 65 votes, a far cry from its landslide 1,352 majority during the 12th General Election in March 2008.

Here's the final tally announced last night by the Election Commission :

Mohd Fauzi Abdullah (PAS) - 5,348
Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat (BN) - 5,283
Majority - 65

The Manek Urai state seat has 12,293 registered voters, including 25 postal voters. Voter turn out was quite good - 87% or 10,631.

So, what can we gauge from this? Well, common sense would tell you that BN is back on track in regaining the trust and confidence of the Malays in Kelantan, especially the fence-sitters. Which means that Dato' Seri Najib must be doing something right.

BN's commander-in-chief for the Manek Urai by-election machinery, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said BN need not be disheartened with the defeat as it is an indication that more and more people are supporting BN again. Muhyiddin who is also the Deputy Prime Minister believed the people are aware of the values of the PM's leadership and the changes that the country has already undergone.

So far so good, BN has accepted defeat in a gentlemen manner. Which is the expected thing to do. I just hope there won't be any gung ho UMNO members who would suggest or demand for a recount, just because PAS won on a razor thin majority. BN can afford to be patient. After a string of defeats in seven by-elections in the past 16 months, BN can finally see some positive results. Believe me, this is positive for BN, being able to deny PAS a landslide victory in the heart of the latter's stronghold - Kelantan.

And it is also hoped that Najib would start to take care of the Malays from now on. In the past 100 days, most of his announcements were in favour of the non-Malays. Sedikit sebanyak, hati orang-orang Melayu terguris jugak.

Cukup-cukup lah tu. We are all for your 1Malaysia concept. But at the same time, jagalah hati orang Melayu.

Again I quote Allahyarham Tun Abdul Razak, our second PM.

"Sekiranya orang-orang Melayu gembira, maka orang-orang lain juga akan gembira di negara ini."

I believe this quote still applies, in fact it applies forever. Because this is the Malay motherland. The Chinese have China as their motherland. The Indians have India as their motherland. But we Malays, this is our motherland. And by virtue of that, cut us Malays some slack, okay? We have been accomodating enough. Don't push it...