PERMATANG PAUH, May 5 — Barisan Nasional’s (BN) victory in the Rompin by-election today with less than half its margin from Election 2013 is a sign the coalition is still bleeding support, Pakatan Rakyat leaders asserted tonight.

PKR vice president Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, said despite talk that PR is at its weakest point now, PAS still managed to maintain its support while halving BN’s majority.

BN’s Datuk Hasan Arifin retained the seat with a total 23,796 votes, which is a 8,895 vote majority over PAS’s Nazri Ahmad.

In comparison, BN obtained 30,400 votes for a 15,114-majority win against PAS in 2013.

“BN has lost votes substantially on exactly the same date as the 2013 general election so this serves as a reminder that people are unhappy over various issues, not only the Goods and Services Tax (GST),” Chua said.

The lower majority for BN in its stronghold seat in Rompin also serves as a morale boost for PR in Permatang Pauh, said Chua.

There has been some initial concern over the slow pace of the campaign here in the first week, but he noted that things have picked up pace in these last few days.

“This is probably the usual last-minute habits of Malaysians as we noticed the same trend during general election when the voters really only decide in the last three days,” he told reporters at the SP Arena here.

Penang PAS deputy commissioner and the Permatang Pauh by-election director, Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, had in his speech said that they never expected to win Rompin but the reduced majority for BN is really good enough for the Islamist party.

“It is a very good signal because it is an Umno stronghold and we all know it is not easy to win it,” he said.

PKR’s Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is contesting the May 7 poll here against BN’s Suhaimi Sabudin, PRM’s Azman Shah Othman and independent Salleh Isahak.