KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the coalition must accept the message from the Mahkota voters with an open heart and take immediate steps to improve the party's performance.
In a statement on his Facebook today, Muhyiddin, who is also the Bersatu chairman, said PN and Bersatu will rise again with a renewed spirit to achieve victory.
Muhyiddin thanked the voters who voted for the PN candidate, Mohamad Haizan Jaafar.
"PN respects the choice of the Mahkota voters in line with the spirit of democracy.
"I believe that the defeat of the PN candidate in this by-election will not dampen our spirit to continue fighting.
"We must accept the message from the Mahkota voters with an open heart and take immediate steps to improve the party's performance.
"God willing, PN and Bersatu, in particular, will rise again with renewed spirit to achieve victory."
In the Mahkota by-election yesterday, Barisan Nasional retained the Mahkota state seat after its candidate, Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah won with a majority of 20,648 votes, leaving his rival Mohamad Haizan Jaafar securing just 7,347 votes.
The by-election was held following the death of assemblyman Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2.
The former Kluang Wanita chief had won the Mahkota state seat with a 5,166 majority with 16,611 votes in the 15th general election against Pakatan Harapan's Taqiuddin Cheman, who garnered 11,445 votes, Mohamad Nor Lingan (7,614 votes), and Party Warisan Sabah's Mohamed Noor Suleiman.