KUALA LUMPUR: The struggle continues for Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) despite their victory in the Nenggiri by-election today.

In a Facebook post, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed the sentiment while thanking the voters.

"I extend my highest appreciation to all the voters in N.43 DUN Nenggiri who have once again entrusted Barisan Nasional to serve the people here", he wrote.

BN's candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani garnered 9,091 votes, defeating Perikatan Nasional's Rizwadi Ismail who received 5,739 votes.

Zahid, who is also Umno president, thanked the election machinery, which included election director Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and operations director Datuk Seri Haji Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub.

He wrote that the trust given by voters is a responsibility that will be accomplished as best as could be.

"With this mandate, we celebrate with humility and repentance as the road of struggle is still long and the effort to restore the public trust for Umno and Barisan Nasional will continue", he wrote.

Earlier today, Zahid said that he was optimistic that BN could win in the by-election, despite a slim chance.

Zahid said that a victory in Nenggiri would be important to allow Umno to not become irrelevant in the Pas-dominated state.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2024/08/1093002/fight-not-over-effort-restore-public-trust-goes-says-zahid-after