KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 — Pakatan Harapan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he had predicted the ruling coalition would lose the Tanjung Piai by-election.

However, he said he did not anticipate the margin of defeat PH eventually suffered in the Johor federal constituency.

"I accept the decision of the people in Tanjung Piai, although I previously expected the majority to shift to the Opposition.

"I expected the margin of defeat to be no more than 2,000 votes. However, the official majority was 15,086 votes,” he said in a statement.

Dr Mahathir said the coalition will perform a detailed and honest analysis of the loss to determine why it lost.

Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng took 25,466 votes versus the 10,380 secured by PH’s Karmaine Sardini from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, giving the former ruling coalition its most resounding victory since its unexpected general election loss last year.

The victory was also the first for the nascent Muafakat Nasional that effectively joined BN to Islamist party PAS.

Tanjung Piai MP Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng is sworn in as a member of the Dewan Rakyat in Kuala Lumpur November 18, 2019. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa