KKB polls: Mature electorate chose progress over politicking, says Umno veep

JOHOR BARU: The victory of Pakatan Harapan’s Pang Sock Tao in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election shows that voters there chose progress over politicking, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

The Umno vice president said voters there are mature and not easily swayed by negative sentiments, but instead prioritise where they want to see the country go in the future.

"They realise the country needs a strong government, and they might be tired of constant politicking. The country needs to move on.

“The government needs all the support it can get so that it can fulfil its roles and responsibilities,” he said after the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) awards ceremony here on Sunday (May 12).

Khaled, who is also Defence Minister, said the government believed the same outcome would be seen in other upcoming by-elections, if any.

"I believe that in other areas (too), voters will act maturely if there's another by-election. The (outcome) will be the same because how long can we keep politicking?" he said.

Pang won the KKB seat with a 3,869-vote majority.

She obtained 14,000 votes against Perikatan Nasional’s Khairul Azhari Saut (10,131), Independent Nyau Ke Xin (188), and Parti Rakyat Malaysia's Hafizah Zainuddin (152).