The Supreme Council member said the 11,065 votes obtained by Yusri Bakir is also proof that the BN-Pakatan Harapan cooperation works.

“Although we only achieved over 2,000 more votes than the 9,088 votes obtained in the 15th general election (GE15), I still think that is an encouraging result,” he told FMT when met at a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house organised by Umno veteran Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

Yesterday, Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad said BN failed to achieve its target of 18,000 votes because of a low voter turnout.

Saarani, who is the state BN chairman, added that a turnout of at least 75% was needed to achieve the vote target he had set.

According to the Election Commission, only 58% of the 31,897 registered voters came out to cast their ballots, a drop from the 75% who turned up in GE15.

Yusri defeated his closest rival, Perikatan Nasional’s Abdul Muhaimin Malek, with a 5,006-vote majority, in the three-cornered contest for the Perak state constituency.

The PAS man obtained 6,059 votes while Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s KS Bawani received 1,106 votes.