IPOH: Perikatan Nasional should be gracious in defeat after losing the Ayer Kuning by-election and not make excuses, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
The Perak Mentri Besar said Perikatan leaders need to accept that the loss also showed a decreased number of votes compared to the 15th General Election.
"Accept the fact that the people of Ayer Kuning rejected them. That's the truth.
"A win is a win. Whatever they say, the fact remains that we won," he told reporters after attending the Riang Ria Aidilfitri GLC open house here on Sunday (April 27).
He was asked to comment on Perikatan's election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's remark that Barisan Nasional failed to meet its 18,000-vote target, which Saarani had previously mentioned.
Saarani explained that the target was based on a projected 75% voter turnout but only 58% of the registered voters came out.
"Only 18,500 people voted, so naturally we couldn't hit that number.
"Still, in GE15, Barisan won with a majority of only over 2,000 votes. This time, the majority rose to 5,006, meaning we improved significantly," he said.
Saarani also claimed that Perikatan had prepared excuses even before official results were announced.
Tapah Umno secretary Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir secured 11,065 votes, defeating Perikatan Nasional's Abd Muhaimin Malek and KS Bawani of Parti Sosialis Malaysia with a majority of 5,006 votes in the Ayer Kuning by-election.
Abd Muhaimin garnered 6,059 votes, while Bawani received 1,106.
The by-election was called following the death of incumbent assemblyman, Tapah Umno chief Ishsam Shahruddin, in February.
