The fall of Pengkalan Pasir is just the starting point towards a greater change in the PAS-government state of Kelantan, said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today.

He said Barisan Nasional (BN) would honour the promises it had made during the campaign for yesterday's by-election.

"We hope the win will be the starting point towards a bigger change but the change cannot not be in the form of pressures but the aspiration of the people.

"I believe if the Kelantan people want a change, it will happen," Najib, who is also BN deputy chairperson, was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.

In the by-election, BN candidate Hanafi Mamat won with a 134-vote majority following a recount. He garnered 7,422 votes while PAS' Hanifa Ahmad obtained 7,288 votes and independent candidate Ibrahim Ali got 415 votes.

No pressure

Najib said despite the win in Pengkalan Pasir, the BN would not be complacent with the challenges from PAS in Kelantan.

"We have to continue to convince the people that their choice is right," he said and added that the win was meaningful as the constituency was the opposition's stronghold.

He attributed the victory to the candidate himself, among others, and said the BN, through Hanafi, would serve the constituents the best they could and bring development to the area.

He gave an assurance that Hanafi would be dedicated to the job.

Asked whether PAS should dissolve the State Legislative Assembly as their majority is now down to one seat, he said the BN would not make such a call as it could be perceived as putting pressure on PAS and reflected as though BN was power-crazy.

What is important is to show the Kelantan people that BN assemblypersons could serve well and are capable of fighting for the people, he said.

"We will do it in Pengkalan Pasir and other constituencies held by the BN," he added