KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said that Barisan Nasional's (BN) victory in Nenggiri was primarily due to the influence of Umno veteran Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
In an episode of his podcast, Keluar Sekejap, he said while the win shows a successful campaign by BN during this election, it also signifies a "return to status quo" that Razaleigh has established for decades in the region.
Razaleigh, fondly known as Ku Li, was Gua Musang member of parliament for 36 years, until he lost the seat to former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) member Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, making him the longest-serving MP in history.
The Nenggiri state assembly seat is located within the boundaries of the Gua Musang parliamentary constituency.
"Many have forgotten that, even since Pas took over Kelantan in the early 1990s, the only seat they failed to take is Gua Musang.
"Gua Musang is like an island. The 'kingdom of Tengku Razaleigh'," Khairy said.
Khairy praised Razaleigh's controversial move to advise against the need for DAP to campaign in the constituency.
"(By doing so) it does not feed into the identity politics played by Perikatan Nasional.
"Tactically, the veteran knows and there is benefit in having him as election director," he said.
The involvement of current Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Salleh and the youth wing was also seen as giving a significant input, as young voters make up an important demographic in elections today.
"I saw Dr Akmal and friends within Umno Youth playing a role similar to (Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor) during the recent Sungai Bakap by-election to attract young voters," Khairy said.
Describing the week as "the most successful for the unity government thus far," Khairy criticised Perikatan Nasional for its complacency, lack of solutions to local issues, and avoidable political missteps, such as Tan Sri Annuar Musa's outfit controversy.
On Aug 18, Barisan Nasional candidate Mohd Azmawi won against Pas' Mohd Rizwadi Ismail in a landslide victory described by Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki as "extraordinary"