The magnificent run by ‘Bossku’ or Malaysia’s ex-PM Najib Razak’s bold rebranding is in tatters after a massive win by the Democratic Action Party in Sandakan, Sabah.
Official results show Pakatan Harapan finally breaking the losing streak against Najib’s coalition with PAS. DAP has retained the Sandakan parliamentary seat.
Najib flew to Sandakan, posted a video of him being greeted at the airport after he captured Malaysia’s Defense Minister Mat Sabu leaving the plane before him.
Saturday night, Najib received a rock star welcome, and he was singing for an early victory in the DAP-held seat. The Star daily said Najib pulled a great crowd, but the results showed a complete bashing of the Umno-PAS-BN backed opposition Parti Bersatu Sabah candidate.
But DAP made gains in Muslim vote, capturing Muslim voting districts with the highest concentration of Muslim voters in the constituency.
DAP strong man Lim Kit Siang says Wong’s victory in the Sandakan by-election is a national turnaround, wiping out the three Pakatan Harapan by-election defeats of Cameron Highlands, Semenyih and Rantau
He adds it is a knockout blow to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s shameless ‘Malu Apa Bossku’ campaign.
DAP’s candidate Vivian Wong garnered 16,012 votes, followed by PBS Datuk Linda Tsen (4,491).
Wong succeeded her late father Stephen Wong, the incumbent Sandakan MP of two terms.
Najib and PAS faced Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal, an ally of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir and Apdal campaigned heavily in the Muslim majority voting districts.
DAP secretary-general and Minister of Finance Lim Guan Eng said Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal had prevailed over the “Bossku” from Peninsular Malaysia.
“He says Bossku’ (Najib) had forgotten that people are angry over corruption and that the people of Sabah have rejected Umno, PAS and PBS adding this is a victory for the people of Sandakan. It was unexpected,” he said.
/TISG