BN takes Chini for first Perikatan polls win
Mohd Sharim Md Zain obtains 13,872 votes to give the ruling coalition its first victory since taking power.
PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional has won the Chini by-election with a 12,650-vote majority, handing the ruling Perikatan Nasional coalition its first election victory since taking power in March.
Former prime minister Najib Razak declared victory for the BN candidate about half an hour before the official results were announced.
The BN candidate, Mohd Sharim Md Zain, 41, polled 13,872 votes while his rivals, independent candidates Tengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin and Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli obtained only 1,222 and 137 votes respectively.
The Election Commission said there had been a 73.87% turnout of the 20,900 voters, exceeding the EC’s target of 70%.
Sharim, 41, is the son of a second-generation Felda settler. He is also the vice-president of the Pahang Youth Council and a committee member of Pekan Umno.
He is a local businessman and served as an officer to the late Abu Bakar Harun, who has served as assemblyman since 2004. He died on May 6 after a heart attack.
In the 2018 general election, Abu Bakar defeated Mohd Fadhil Noor Abdul Karim (PAS) and Mohamad Razali Ithnain (PKR) by a 4,622-vote majority. Razali received only 1,065 votes.
Chini is one of the four state seats in the Pekan parliamentary constituency, represented by Najib. Chini has 20,900 registered voters, comprising 20,972 regular voters and 18 early voters. Those aged 40 and below make up 56% cent of the electorate.
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