ALOR SETAR: Perikatan Nasional has secured a resounding victory in Kedah, sweeping all but three seats in the state election.
The coalition lost Kota Darul Aman, Sidam and Bakar Arang to Pakatan Harapan.
Caretaker Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor looks set to be reappointed for a second term following his win in the Jeneri state seat.
He beat his Barisan Nasional rival Datuk Muhamad Khizri Abu Kassim comfortably, polling 21,823 votes against the latter’s 5,773 votes.
All of Pakatan’s big guns were swept aside this time around, with Amanah vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar among the casualties.
He lost to former state football star Muhammad Radhi Mat Din from Perikatan in the Alor Mengkudu state seat.
Set for another term: Kedah caretaker Mentri Besar Muhammad Sanusi (left) and Belantek assemblyman Ahmad Sulaiman posing for a photograph after the official announcement of their wins. — Bernama
Mahfuz only managed to poll 8,832 votes while Muhammad Radhi secured 18,936 votes.
This was Mahfuz’s second defeat in less than nine months, having lost the Pokok Sena parliamentary seat to PAS’ Datuk Ahmad Yahaya in GE15.
Another big name who fell was Kedah Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid in Pedu.
Mahdzir obtained 8,024 votes, while his Perikatan rival Mohd Radzi Md Amin polled 14,397 votes.
Mahdzir also lost his Padang Terap parliamentary seat in GE15 last November.
In Gurun, former Kedah football team captain Baddrol Bakhtiar secured 17,771 votes while Mohd Firdaus Johari from Pakatan managed 11,187 votes.
In the last general election, PAS had the most seats with 15, followed by Bersatu (six), PKR (five), Amanah (three), and two each for Umno, DAP and newcomer Pejuang.
