BN feels a 'wind of change' in Permatang Pauh

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Barisan Nasional is feeling the "wind of change" in the Permatang Pauh by-election, says its election director Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the election machinery could feel the difference in the current political scenario as compared to the past – where the "people who were staying in the dark political cave are finding the light out there".
"The wind of change is blowing strong, and we hope that the wind of change continues to blow after 6pm on May 7 (when polling closes)," he told reporters here yesterday as polling day looms closer.
He added there is a 'different feel' as compared to the Permatang Pasir state by-election in 2009, where PAS candidate Datuk Mohd Salleh Man defeated BN's Rohaizat Othman.
Ahmad Zahid said he was the BN by-election director then, where the people were sympathetic then towards the Pakatan Rakyat.
"But it is different now. We see they are tired with the rhetoric and they had paid an expensive price for 17 years," said the Umno vice-president.
Ahmad also said that the opponents in the current by-election are getting aggressive in their campaigning, but added that BN will not 'bite the bait'.
"Aggression will cause more hate for the campaigning party ... and we will not fall for it.
"At the end of the day, the people will determine who will win," he said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid also quashed claims that BN has been bribing voters during late night visits here.
He said that this is just claims made by PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli, adding that he was very 'imaginative'.
“As a brilliant political strategist, he is most capable of using such allegations as a political strategy for his party," he said.
Ahmad Zahid was responding to claims by Rafizi that BN campaigners were making visits after 10pm to provide bribes to voters, and had called the Election Commission to monitor such activities.