BUKIT MERTAJAM, 26 Aug 2008: Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah attributed the Barisan Nasional (BN) defeat at the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election on 26 Aug to low voter turnout and rumours of trouble, a Bernama report said.
Despite the defeat, the BN candidate said he will continue to serve the people including those in the Penanti and Permatang Pasir seats held by Pakatan Rakyat.
"I respect the voters’ decision. For me, it will be business as usual," he told reporters on 26 Aug night.
Permatang Pauh comprises three state seats, namely Seberang Jaya held by Arif Shah, Permatang Pasir by Hamdan Abd Rahman of PAS and Penanti by Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
Arif Shah, who said he would be at his service centre as usual the next day on 27 Aug, attributed the BN defeat to the low voter turnout and security concerns following rumours of trouble.
PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim won the by-election with 31,195 votes while Arif Shah obtained 15,524 votes and Hanafi Mamat of Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia garnered only 92 votes. – Bernama
