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By NELSON BENJAMIN, The Star JOHOR BARU: The loss suffered by the Barisan Nasional in the Permatang Pauh by-election should not be read as an emerging trend for other constituencies.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stressed that while the loss was something to be concerned about, the situation had not reached a “worrying level” as Barisan Nasional still controlled 140 seats after the March 8 general election. “We can still continue with the government. We are aware of the mandate given to us and we will work hard to deliver,” he said. Congratulating Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on his win, Abdullah said the victory was expected by many people, considering that Permatang Pauh has for a long time been regarded as Anwar’s constituency. “And for two terms it was represented by his wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. So now the constituency returns to him,” he told reporters after attending the12th annual leaders’ consultation between Brunei and Malaysia here yesterday. Asked whether the Government would be taking the threat of MPs crossing over to the opposition more seriously after Anwar’s win, he replied: “We are well aware of this threat. This is something everyone knows. “People have been talking about it. As far as we are concerned, we will look after our people, we will continue to perform and continue to do what the rakyat are expecting us to do and we do not have to worry beyond that,” he said, adding that he did not expect any Barisan MP to leave the party. Abdullah also dismissed the assumption that Anwar’s boast that he would become prime minister if he won the seat had swung votes to the PKR adviser. “I don’t think so. I think there are other things which he promised, like reducing the fuel price and racial issues in our country which drew the attention of certain parties,” he said.
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