State polls: Kedah BN accepts defeat, congratulates PN

Photo: Bernama

ALOR SETAR: The Kedah Barisan Nasional has accepted the defeat and failure to form a new state government under the unity pact in the state elections, says its chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

Mahdzir said the unity pact accepts the decision that was made by the people of Kedah.

"We accept the results and thank the people of Kedah, and we would like to congratulate Perikatan Nasional who successfully formed the state government after the win," he said in a statement on Saturday (Aug 12) night.

The state Umno chief also took the opportunity to thank the Barisan election machinery who worked hard during the campaign period.

He said the party accepts the defeat and described it as a norm in any competition.

"In any competition there will be those who win and those who lose, we accept it wholeheartedly," he said.

Mahdzir said Barisan as a political front accepted the results with an open heart after voters refused to put the trust in the unity pact government to govern the state.

He advised the state Barisan and Umno not to put the blame of its defeat in the state election on anyone.

"I want all Barisan and Umno members to calm down and not to point fingers at any parties.

We made the effort to woo the people in Kedah not only during the state election but have been serving the people since the beginning," he said.

Mahdzir was among the biggest casualties in the Kedah state election when he lost to incumbent Perikatan’s candidate Mohd Radzi Md Amin.

Mahdzir received 8,024 votes while his rival Mohd Radzi comfortably won with 14,397 votes.

Other big name casualties in the state were state Amanah chief Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh, Amanah vice president Datuk Mahfuz Omar and state DAP chairman Tan Kok Yew who had lost in Pengkalan Kundor, Alor Mengkudu and Derga respectively.