Monday May 6, 2013

GE13: Barisan takes back Kedah with Mukhriz set to be ninth MB

Doing his part: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad posing for a photo with a voter while waiting in line to cast his vote with wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali at Sekolah Kebangsaan Titi Gajah, Alor Setar. — Bernama

ALOR SETAR: Barisan Nasional regained power from Pakatan Rakyat in Kedah by securing 21 of the 36 state seats.

Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, who delivered the lost Ayer Hitam seat to Barisan, will be installed as the ninth Mentri Besar of Kedah.

Mukhriz won by a 2,446-vote majority, securing 14,083 votes against incumbent Datuk Abdul Ghani Ahmad's 11,637.

A total 72.82% of the 1.041 million voters in Kedah cast their votes yesterday.

Outgoing Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak of PAS won by a 2,774-vote majority in a four-cornered fight with his cousin Mohd Fazillah Mohd Ali (BN) and two other independents in Sungai Limau.

Gerakan was wiped out in Kedah as sole incumbent Dr Cheah Soon Hai was defeated by DAP's Tan Kok Yew in Derga. His compatriot Bee Sieong Heng lost in his bid for Sidam in a six-cornered fight.

All smiles: Mukhriz and wife Datin Norzita Zakaria dropping their ballots into the box at Sekolah Kebangsaan Siputih Padang Sera, in Jerlun. — Bernama

DAP's Teoh Boon Kok won in Kota Darul Aman, bringing the total number of state seats won by DAP to two.

Barisan increased its state seats from 14 in the last general election to 21 this time.

Barisan also won nine of the 15 parliamentary seats at stake: Jerlun, Kubang Pasu, Jerai, Sik, Baling, Langkawi, Padang Terap, Pendang and Kulim Bandar Bahru.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu lost to Barisan Datuk Othman Abdul in Pendang.

Brothers and rivals Datuk Sahlan Ismail of Barisan and PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail were both defeated in Pokok Sena and Kulim Bandar Bahru respectively.

PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar was returned as Pokok Sena MP for the third term.

Putra Umno chief Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahman won the Baling parliamentary seat with a 5,185-vote majority, beating Brig Jen (Rtd) Datuk Najmi Ahmad of PAS.

For more election stories, please visit The Star's GE13 site

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