PETALING JAYA: The unity government will redouble its efforts to work for the people and to improve their standard of living, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim following the alliance’s defeat in the Sungai Bakap by-election.

The Prime Minister said he humbly accepted the voters’ voice in Sungai Bakap, which saw the alliance’s candidate being trounced by Opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional, and promised that his administration would work harder for the people.

“The by-election had taken place at a time when the country is adjusting to the wave of changes that are being diligently implemented by the new Madani government,” Anwar wrote in a Facebook post a day after the polls.

Perikatan had won the Sungai Bakap state seat in Penang by a majority of 4,267 votes, a larger winning margin than the 1,563 that it achieved in the 2023 state elections.

According to analysts, political activists and Sungai Bakap’s voters, a chief factor behind the alliance’s defeat was public anger over the price increases in goods and services nationwide following the restructuring of diesel subsidies on June 10.

“The unity government alliance respects and accepts the defeat of the Pakatan Harapan candidate in the Sungai Bakap by-election.

“I, as Prime Minister, humbly accept the voice of the people of Sungai Bakap,” said Anwar, who is Pakatan chairman.

“The unity government alliance will rally and solidly commit to implementing policies and initiatives that are in line with today’s realities and our plans to take the country to the next level.”

In SEREMBAN, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan told reporters that the unity government would study the causes behind its candidate’s bigger loss to Perikatan.

“We know that Sungai Bakap is a PAS stronghold but we need to study why we lost by a bigger margin,” said Mohamad, whose party Umno is part of the unity government alliance.

“We all know there are several contributing factors to this, such as voter turnout, and we need to take stock of this,” said Mohamad after opening the Rembau Umno division annual general meeting yesterday.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/08/well-work-harder-following-defeat-in-sungai-bakap-says-pm