COMMENT Having lost his first by-election ever, Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir doesn't look like someone who has tasted defeat.

After all, he had managed to narrow BN's gap in Sungai Limau - one of PAS' famous strongholds and a seat it had continuously held since 1969.

Moreover, Mukhriz, 49, is not exactly the most experienced person to lead a BN's campaign but the duty was thrust upon him by virtue of being the Kedah BN leader.

Naturally, his detractors made a big deal during the campaign that he represents his father Dr Mahathir Mohamad (left) - a highly polarising figure - and his ideals.

Mukhriz's narrow defeat during the recent Umno vice-presidency race has been attributed to this baggage, and it could work again in Sungai Limau.

Eventually, Mukhriz was unable to cause an upset in Sungai Limau, but slashing PAS' majority by 60 percent in its stronghold will be something that he can boast about.

Had PAS managed to increase its majority, Mukhriz's political standing in Umno would be precarious indeed, more so because of the scars left by the recent Umno internal elections.

Doesn't 'dare to change'

But if his critics from within and without the party were to point out something about Mukhriz, it is the fact that he brings nothing new to the table.

BN's campaign has still a lot to do with the tried and tested strategies - lucky draw events, sumptious dinners, use of government machinery, free spectacles and cooking oil.

Then there is the mandatory additional funding for schools, albeit including having to deal with the embarrassment of handing out RM1 million to a Chinese school with only 15 students.

This was not exactly what one would expect from a person who used "Dare to change" as his slogan during the Umno election just a month ago.

Although Mukhriz can pat himself on the back for BN's ability to narrow the gap in a PAS stronghold, the same could not be said of his father.

Opposition veteran Lim Kit Siang (right) was quick to point out on Twitter that the person who was dealt the "greatest blow" was Mahathir, calling BN's defeat the "third setback in six months after GE13 and the Umno party polls".

As in his previous by-elections forays since 2008, Mahathir hit the campaign trail in Sungai Limau at the eleventh hour, appearing in the area only yesterday.

Unfortunately for Mahathir, he doesn't exactly have the Midas touch despite being the most famous Kedahan ever, having served as prime minister for an unprecedented 22 years.

For now, he can add Sungai Limau to his growing list of areas - Lumut, Pasir Mas, Gelang Patah and Shah Alam during GE13, along with the Bukit Gantang by-election in 2009 - where he had briefly campaigned and BN lost.

Kedah PAS still in a slump

For PAS, the victory in Sungai Limau should not be a cause for celebration because the reduced majority shows that the party is still on a slump in Kedah, despite looking invigorated in Terengganu and Selangor.

In fact, PAS' majority in Sungai Limau has been on a steady decline since 2008, which Kedah PAS chief Mahfuz Omar cleverly took note of, predicting that the party would win the seat with a vastly reduced majority.

Although Kedah PAS has influence through its networks in mosques and religious schools, its campaign message rarely goes beyond religious rhetoric, unlike their counterparts in Selangor who clearly outline how it intends to govern and resolve bread-and-butter issues.

This is where BN excels, focusing on fishermen and farmers during the campaign and promising to help where Kedah PAS do not seem accustomed to.

Mahfuz, who is likely to lead PAS' charge against Mukhriz in the next general election, clearly has his work cut out for him despite being more experienced in politics.