Johor Polls: BN defends Layang-Layang seat in a Maszlee upset

SHAH ALAM - BN has emerged victorious in one of the hotly-contested seats in the Johor polls yesterday after it retained the Layang-Layang seat with a 2,815 majority.

In a four-cornered fight, BN candidate Abdul Mutalip Abd Rahim managed to be rivals former Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik from PKR, PN’s K. Alagathiran and Ahmad Syafiq Othaman from Pejuang.

Abdul Mutalip, who was Layang-Layang state assemblyman from 2013 to 2018, obtained 7,511 votes compared to Maszlee with 4,736 votes.

Alagathiran secured 1,278 votes while Ahmad Syafiq only managed to get a mere 164 votes.

This comes as a big shocker to many as Maszlee, who is also the Simpang Renggam MP, was considered the public’s favourite to win. He was even tipped off to be PH’s Menteri Besar candidate.

Abdul Mutalip had reportedly expressed his gratitude and thanks to voters for electing him once more and placing their trust in him.

He promised to cooperate with Maszlee, regardless of their political differences as Layang-Layang is part of the Simpang Renggam Parliamentary constituency.

Abdul Mutalip is also the former Johor State Religious and Heritage Committee chairman.

A total of 15,088 voters out of 25,147 registered voters in the constituency cast their votes on Saturday.