PN’s operations director for the Nenggiri by-election, Annuar Musa, said unofficial results had shown that the Barisan Nasional candidate, Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, won the seat with a comfortable majority today.

“Congratulations to the winners. We wish them well in fulfilling the responsibilities that have been entrusted to them,” he said in a Facebook post. “The people of Nenggiri have made their choice, and we must respect that. May the people of Nenggiri receive the proper representation they deserve.”

Unofficial results from BN showed that the coalition has regained the state seat with a 3,372-vote majority. As of 8.13pm, BN’s Azmawi polled 9,113 votes to the 5,741 votes secured by PN’s Rizwadi Ismail.

PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, while congratulating BN, challenged the coalition to vacate the seats of six former Bersatu members who supported Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Fadhli, who is Pasir Mas MP, said after BN’s victory today that BN are strong once again, and the people in Nenggiri are supporting BN.

“Certainly, the government will no longer hesitate to declare six seats vacant so BN can contest them. That is, if they are confident they have regained their strength,” he said.

Official results are expected to be announced by returning officer Nik Raisnan Daud at 9pm at the earliest.

The by-election was called when the seat was declared vacant in June after then assemblyman Azizi Abu Naim ceased to be a Bersatu member.