Taufiq said the current government had inherited a fiscal position and economic situation passed on by previous governments, adding that its leaders could choose to be statesmen or “cheap” politicians.

“It’s easy to be a populist and attain temporary victories, but it’s not easy to do what would really benefit the country in the long run.

“If losing the by-election is the price (the unity coalition) has to pay, then we accept it and will reflect on it for the sake of the people and country.

“We will bolster their trust and increase efforts to explain (the government’s policies) to the people,” he said in a post on X.

The Sungai Petani MP said the results of policies implemented by Putrajaya may not bear fruit in the short-term, but he believed the government is doing its best for the people.

“The end result of all these efforts will (one day) be enjoyed by the people, and they can then evaluate (the unity government) rightly.”

PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari had said that the outcome of the Sungai Bakap by-election was a clear rejection of the recently implemented diesel subsidy scheme which he claimed had burdened many consumers.

Similarly, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh had taken a swipe at Rafizi, sarcastically labelling the minister as the “king of formulas” and congratulating the people of Sungai Bakap for rejecting Pakatan Harapan.

In response, Taufiq urged Akmal to be more mature and sincere in building bridges between PH and Barisan Nasional for the sake of the people.