KUALA LUMPUR – Former health minister and Umno politician Khairy Jamaluddin said DAP and PAS were the prominent winners of the state elections, and signalled Umno’s diminished standing in the country’s political landscape.
Speaking on Astro Awani, Khairy provided his analysis of the electoral outcomes, listing the major beneficiaries and those who suffered setbacks.
“So far for me if there is a list of winners and losers tonight DAP is the biggest winner,” the former Rembau MP said.
“They might only lose one seat so which means in Pakatan Harapan they are the strongest link. Number two is PAS.”
Khairy also acknowledged PAS as the second significant winner, praising their contributions to the coalition’s triumph in Kedah and Penang.
Contrarily, Professor Wong Chin Huat, Deputy Head (Strategy) of the Asia Headquarters of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network at Sunway University, offered an opposing viewpoint.
“I would reverse the order,” Wong said, highlighting PAS as the most substantial victor due to their successful territorial expansion.
In terms of losses, Khairy mentioned Muda as a major contender. Despite their defeats in Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, and Terengganu, Khairy remained optimistic about Muda’s future as a burgeoning political entity.
While hesitant at first, Khairy eventually acknowledged Umno’s challenging results. UMNO’s performance in Kedah, where they lost all 15 seats, underscored their setbacks.
Negeri Sembilan, however, offered a glimmer of hope for Umno, where they secured victory in 14 out of the 17 contested seats.
“Except for Negri Sembilan, Umno’s prominence waned significantly today,” Khairy said – August 13, 2023