PERMATANG PAUH, May 6 ― Barisan Nasional (BN) has maintained that it is still the underdog in the Permatang Pauh by-election, but expressed hope of an unexpected victory tomorrow in the PKR stronghold.
Penang BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow said from day one of the by-election, BN is the underdog in the federal seat that has been held for years by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
“We have already said from the start that we are not in a comfortable situation in this by-election, but we continued to campaign cleanly without gutter politics and name calling,” Teng told reporters here.
He added that this is not the same with their political opponents who are showing signs of desperation.
He accused Pakatan Rakyat (PR) of resorting to aggressive sabotage by destroying BN's campaign posters.
Today is the last day of the campaign for the by-election and the last chance for both sides to garner support from voters.
BN's candidate Suhaimi Sabudin believed that there is still hope for BN despite being an underdog.
“In the two weeks of campaigning, I've met a lot of voters and there is some hope based on the responses I get from voters who wanted someone to really serve them,” he said in a press conference at the BN by-election command centre.
He said he believes that Permatang Pauh voters will make the wise decision of voting for him as he has pledged to do his best to serve the constituents here if he wins.
“Voters should choose someone who's local and has a good relationship with the federal government so that it is easier to get allocations and projects for the constituency,” he said.
Penang Umno Liaison chief Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman also reminded voters that PKR's candidate is just a proxy who is only contesting to win sympathy votes.
It is a four-corner fight for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat tomorrow between PKR's Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, BN's Suhaimi, PRM's Azman Shah Othman and independent Salleh Isahak.
A total 71,252 ordinary voters will be casting their votes in 130 voting channels in 25 polling stations from 8am to 5pm tomorrow.
