Pelangai by-election shows BN losing grip of Felda settlements

KUANTAN: The just-concluded Pelangai by-election saw Barisan Nasional retaining the state seat but is seen to have lost its grip on Felda settlements, say analysts.

An analysis by Institut Darul Ehsan (IDE) found that Perikatan Nasional won two out of three Felda voting districts in the by-election.

The polling pattern showed Perikatan receiving 49.78% of the support in Felda Sungai Kemahal, narrowly beating Barisan by 0.32%, said IDE.

It was a different matter in Felda Kemasul where Perikatan trounced Barisan by a margin of 12.9%.

However, IDE noted that Perikatan candidate Kasim Samat lost in his own hometown of Felda Chemomoi.

In that particular voting district, the polling pattern was in Barisan's favour by 53.8%, beating Perikatan's 45.2%.

Felda chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek pointed out that in the three Felda voting districts, the streams where Barisan's Datuk Amizar Abu Adam lost were dominated by a new generation of settlers.

"Barisan won in Felda Chemomoi but lost in Kemasul and Sungai Kemahal, especially in Kemasul's streams two, three, four and five.

"All of these streams are of the new generation of settlers. Some of them now live outside the area," he said.

Ahmad Shabery said he was aware of various internal issues affecting Felda that required attention.

He said these included settlement, residential lots, electric and water supply as well as issues concerning Felda voters in the Klang Valley.

"Job opportunities and new economic activities are also hot issues that need to be resolved together.

"I will continue to delve into the important issues of the Felda community, including those related to the management of Felda that need cooperation among settlers, Felda and the federal and state governments," he added.

Ahmad Shabery also expressed gratitude to those who had helped bring to his attention the Felda community's concerns throughout the by-election campaign.

Meanwhile, Pahang Perikatan chairman Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah noted that Barisan's majority had "clearly declined", based on the results from the Felda areas.

"Even though we lost in Chemomoi, when the ballots of the three voting districts were added up, Perikatan received 3,038 votes compared to Barisan's 2,920.

"This means that Perikatan won the overall Felda votes and Felda is no longer the fortress of Umno and Barisan," he said in a statement.

Saifuddin also claimed that compared to the 15th General Election, Perikatan's popular vote had increased by 11.8% while Barisan's only rose by 3.5%.

"But when taking into account the combined votes of Barisan and Pakatan Harapan during the general election, it has actually declined by 11.5%.

"The estimated support from Malay voters towards Perikatan has also increased by 14%, while Barisan has seen a downturn by 8%," said Saifuddin, adding that Perikatan had also retained the support of young voters.

"In conclusion, Perikatan has once again proved that we are able to replace Umno and Barisan and win the hearts of young people, while Umno and Barisan are dependent on DAP and Pakatan," he said.

In last Saturday's Pelangai by-election, Amizar won with 7,324 votes, a 2,949-vote majority against Perikatan's Kasim Samat with 4,375, followed by Independent Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli, who garnered 47 votes.

Voter turnout was 72.12%.

The by-election was triggered after Datuk Johari Harun died in a plane crash in Shah Alam in August.