BN SCORES BIG WIN IN BY-ELECTION

PORT DICKSON (Malaysia), Oct 12 (Bernama) -- Ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) retained the Bagan Pinang state seat in a by-election Sunday with a bigger majority than the 2008 general election.

BN candidate Mohd Isa Abdul Samad garnered 8,013 votes to beat opposition
Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) state commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad Omar
who polled 2,578 votes.

Mohd Isa secured a 5,435-vote majority compared to the 2,333-vote majority
garnered by former BN assemblyman Azman Mohammad, whose death necessitated the
by-election.

The victory is seen as significant to BN as it will inspire the coalition to
regain a lost ground after its dismal performance in the 2008 general election.

Although the by-election was held on a weekend, it could only muster a voter
turn-out of 82-per cent. There were 223 spoilt votes.

BN supporters erupted into cheers when the results were announced by
returning officer Abdul Wahab Shamsuddin at the Port Dickson Municipal Council
hall at 8.03pm.

The polls were marred by scuffles and bottle-throwing incidents involving BN
and opposition supporters .

However, heavy police presence prevented the fights, which emanated from a
shouting match, from escalating.
-- BERNAMA