KUALA LUMPUR – The Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) coalition has managed to maintain its hold on the popular vote at 3,399,472 (49.58%), despite notable advances made by Perikatan Nasional (PN) in key states during the recent polls.
Although PN trailed closely behind with 3,382,455 (49.33%) votes, the slim margin of victory for PH-BN stood at 17,017 votes.
PN’s stronghold remained evident in Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu, securing a cumulative total of 1,877,606 votes.
Kedah witnessed a significant voter turnout of 73.6%, with 69% (805,534) of the voters supporting PN out of the 1,166,723 who cast their ballots. PN triumphed with 33 seats, while PH-BN secured only three seats. PN fielded candidates from Bersatu (12), PAS (21), and Gerakan (three).
Despite a lower voter turnout of 60.9% (861,083 voters) in Kelantan, PN achieved success by winning 43 out of 45 contested seats with the support of 69.6% (599,341) of the voters. PN was represented by 39 candidates from PAS and six from Bersatu.
Terengganu saw the highest voter turnout of 74.9% (765,122 out of 1,021,526 registered voters), enabling PN to establish the state government by sweeping all 32 contested seats. The victory was secured by 27 candidates from PAS and five from Bersatu.
However, PH-BN’s resilience was evident in the remaining states of Negri Sembilan, Penang, and Selangor, where they garnered the support of a combined 2,564,159 voters to form state governments.
Negri Sembilan witnessed a turnout of 67.3% (582,455 voters) out of 864,425 registered voters, granting the PH-BN coalition 60.8% (354,728) of the votes to take the state government.
The coalition fielded candidates from DAP (11), PKR (six), Amanah (two), and Umno (17), with PN trailing closely by securing the support of 225,180 voters (38.6%).
Penang saw an impressive voter turnout of 72.1% (889,894 out of 1,234,198 registered voters). Beyond the rivalry between PH-BN and PN, Parti Rakyat Malaysia fielded five candidates, garnering 0.21% of the total voter turnout with 1,874 votes.
Selangor, a fierce battleground for PH-BN and PN, attracted a voter turnout of 71.3% (2,674,860 voters) vying for 56 contested seats. PH-BN secured support from 1,617,822 voters (60.3%), while PN garnered 1,012,543 votes (37.8%). Notably, the Muda party participated prominently, fielding 14 candidates and gaining 27,752 votes (1.03%).
A significant achievement for PH-BN was retaining their deposits in all contested seats across the six states, setting them apart from PN, which faced deposit losses in 18 seats between Selangor and Penang.
Despite the notable “green wave”, PH-BN’s resolute unity prevailed against PN’s efforts, marked by their ability to amass substantial votes while preventing deposit losses. – August 16, 2023