In a statement, the DAP central executive committee member praised his party colleague for the win and called on PN to accept that Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country – with a more moderate approach needed to secure votes from all segments of society.

Syahredzan said that the cross-ethnic support obtained by Pang sealed the win for the unity government and demonstrated that politics based on unity and solidarity is the “best formula for Selangor and Malaysia”.

Apart from trying to portray Pang in a negative light for attending vernacular schools, Syahredzan said that PN leaders’ campaigns were focused on Malays and their alleged “loss of power”.

“From the beginning of the campaign, PN sought to win by playing up race and religion issues,” he said.

“This loss should serve as a wake-up call to PN to abandon the divisive and toxic politics that they often resort to.

“It is clear that such politics yield diminishing returns and are unable to win over states like Selangor or the country as a whole.”

PN candidate Khairul Azhari Saut lost by a 3,869-vote majority to Pang, who received 14,000 votes.

Khairul polled 10,131 votes yesterday, slightly lower than the 10,743 won by Gerakan’s Henry Teoh in the state elections last August.

In a statement last night, PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said he accepted the results of the by-election and that the opposition coalition will conduct a detailed study on the outcome.