MAHKOTA BY-ELECTION: BN NEEDS TO WIN TO KEEP MOMENTUM FOR SABAH STATE ELECTION - BUNG MOKTAR

KLUANG, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) needs to win the Mahkota state by-election to keep the momentum rolling for the coalition in the Sabah State Election.

Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said a victory in the Mahkota seat can bring a positive image for BN, especially UMNO, after the success in the Nenggiri state by-election in Kelantan last month, which showed the transformation including fielding young candidates  by the party, was effective.

"This success (also) can improve morale for the Unity Government by showing the effectiveness of their coalition and the ability to win. For us in Sabah, this success provides a paradigm shift to be more confident and enthusiastic about the state election," he said while attending a Goodwill Gathering at Taman Matahari here.

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Accordingly, Bung Moktar appealed to voters to support BN candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah this Saturday, while the party machinery was reminded to continue intensifying efforts to woo voters in the last minute before the campaign period ends at midnight tomorrow.

The strong and stable administration of Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi which has no major issues, according to Bung Moktar, can give voters confidence that the BN candidate is the right choice to continue driving development in Johor.

"Local voters see the stability of the administration as the basis for their choice. There is no reason why voters in the Mahkota state constituency should reject BN in this by-election. Many changes in terms of development and the welfare of the people have been given attention by the state government," he said.

The Mahkota state by-election this Saturday is seeing a straight fight between Syed Hussien and Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Mohamad Haizan Jaafar.

The by-election was held following the death of the incumbent Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, on August 2.

-- BERNAMA