The coalition’s candidate, Budiman Mohd Zohdi defeated PAS’ Dr Abdul Rani Osman and Amanah’s Azhar Abdul Shukur, in the three cornered fight with a majority of 9,191 votes.

Budiman, who is also the Sungai Panjang assemblyman garnered 16,800 votes, while Abdul Rani garnered 6,902 votes and Azhar obtained 7,609 votes.

The win was announced by the Election Commission (EC) returning officer Mohammad Khairuddin Md Som at the Dewan Seri Bernam vote-tallying centre here at 10pm.

According to the EC, turnout for the by-election was 74.4 per cent of the 42,655 eligible voters in the constituency.

Budiman admitted he was surprised to have won so convincingly.

“I was optimistic  but I never thought I would win with such a large majority.

“I will continue my work with the people as I have always done in Sungai Panjang, now I just need to extend it to Sekinchan,” he told reporters after being announced the winner.

The by-election was triggered by the death of the Sungai Besar incumbent, former deputy minister of plantation industries and commodities Noriah Kasnon in a helicopter crash in Sarawak last month.

In the 2013 General Election, BN’s Noriah beat PAS’ Mohamed Salleh Husin with a 399-vote majority.