Perikatan Nasional Drops Election Petition Against Barisan Nasional in Nenggiri By-Election

Background

Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani from Barisan Nasional (BN) defeated Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Rizwadi Ismail in the Nenggiri by-election last August. The result was a significant win for BN, as it reclaimed the Nenggiri seat with a majority of 3,352 votes.

Kelantan Bersatu’s Initial Claims

Kelantan Bersatu, the state chapter of PN, had initially claimed that BN’s win was “illegally” obtained. In August, Kelantan Bersatu chief Kamarudin Nor said that PN was gathering evidence to show that BN had bribed and threatened voters during the two-week campaign period ahead of the by-election.

Dropping the Election Petition

However, in a sudden turn of events, Kelantan Bersatu has announced that it is dropping the planned election petition to challenge BN’s win. Kamarudin told FMT that the state chapter has decided to focus on strengthening its position and wresting the seat from BN at the next polls, which must be held by 2028.

“We have decided not to proceed with the election petition against the relevant parties regarding the Nenggiri by-election,” Kamarudin said. “We want to focus on strengthening the party and leadership for the coming election.”

Umno’s Response

Umno had previously dismissed Kamarudin’s claims, saying it was a gimmick to cover up PN’s “embarrassing defeat”. The party had also accused PN of trying to undermine the credibility of the electoral process.

Background to the By-Election

The by-election was held after incumbent Azizi Abu Naim of Bersatu had his seat declared vacant by the Kelantan assembly speaker after Bersatu sacked him as a member for supporting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Azizi is also the Gua Musang MP.

Conclusion

The decision by Kelantan Bersatu to drop the election petition marks a significant shift in the party’s strategy. Instead of focusing on challenging the results of the by-election, PN will now focus on strengthening its position and preparing for the next polls. This move may be seen as a pragmatic decision, as it allows the party to conserve resources and energy for the upcoming elections.

FAQs

Q: Why did Kelantan Bersatu initially claim that BN’s win was “illegally” obtained?
A: Kelantan Bersatu claimed that BN had bribed and threatened voters during the campaign period.

Q: Why is Kelantan Bersatu dropping the election petition?
A: The party has decided to focus on strengthening its position and preparing for the next polls.

Q: What is the significance of this decision?
A: The decision marks a shift in PN’s strategy, as it will no longer challenge the results of the by-election. Instead, the party will focus on preparing for the next polls.