PM Hopes Hanafi Can Bring Change To Pengkalan Pasir - Bernama

From Khairdzir Yunus

MECCA, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in his thank you message to Pengkalan Pasir voters for returning victory to Barisan Nasional (BN), hopes BN candidate Hanafi Mamat would bring about change to the constituency.

"As I have said, Hanafi will make a good state assemblyman for the constituency," said the Prime Minister when asked for his reaction to BN's triumph in the Pengkalan Pasir by-election, Wednesday.

BN wrested control over Pas stronghold in Pengkalan Pasir when 51-year old Hanafi, who is also Pasir Mas Deputy Umno division chief won the by-election after a recount Wednesday.

Hanafi secured 7,422 votes with a 134-vote majority, defeating Pas candidate Hanifa Ahmad who garnered 7,288 votes. Independent candidate Datuk Ibrahim Ali received mere 415 votes and lost his deposit.

Abdullah, who is BN chairman told the Malaysian media covering the Third Extraordinary Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) that he was grateful to Allah that the by-election had proceeded smoothly and the people had the opportunity to exercise their rights in electing their state assemblyman, through the ballot box.

"I would also like to thank the Barisan Nasional election machinery led by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib (Tun Razak) and Datuk (Seri) Annuar Musa (Kelantan Umno Liaison Chief).

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