“The silent majority has spoken,” he said in a Facebook post thanking the coalition’s machinery for helping BN retain the state assembly seat in a three-cornered fight.

Unofficial results show BN candidate Yusri Bakir obtained 10,971 votes for a majority of 4,812 against Perikatan Nasional’s Abd Muhaimin Malek of PAS (6,159 votes) and KS Bawani of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (1,058 votes).

There are 31,281 registered voters on the electoral roll for the Ayer Kuning by-election, which was called following the death of assemblyman Ishsam Shahruddin on Feb 22.

Akmal said that despite the criticisms and being belittled as well as labelled as a toothless party, Umno decided to keep mum and remain steadfast in its struggle.

Keeping mum was not a sign of weakness or that the party had conceded defeat.

“Those who remain silent had their voices heard at the ballot boxes.”

Akmal said those who kept silent were the majority who yearned “for a new and mature kind of politics”, and thanked Ayer Kuning voters and the BN election machinery for the party’s victory.