Wind Of Change In Favour Of Pas In Kelantan - Bernama

KOTA BAHARU, March 9 (Bernama) -- Based on the tremendous response given to the Barisan Nasional (BN) throughout the 13-day campaign to end Pas' 18-year-rule in Kelantan, the results in the just-concluded election is "unexpected", to say the least.

The silent majority, which the BN had banked on to turn the tide to its favour, had voted to the contrary -- by returning Pas to power with a bigger majority.

The final tally saw Pas winning a total of 38 state seats while its opposition partner Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) won one, giving the opposition front a total of 39 out of 45 state seats. The BN won the other six seats.

For parliamentary seats, Pas won nine, PKR three and BN two, a stark contrast to the scenario in the 2004 general election when the BN won 12 out of 14 parliamentary seats.

In the 2004 election, while the chief ministers and Menteris Besar in other states were being sworn in, Kelantan was still in a state of uncertainty as the BN and Pas were tied at 19 seats each, with recounts in seven more seats.

It was only two days after the voting that Kelantan was able to form the state government with a slim majority of 24 seats compared to BN's 21 seats.

Pas further lost another seat to BN in the Pengkalan Pasir by-election in 2005.

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