MALAYSIA - Barisan Nasional does not buy votes to ensure victory in elections but it makes sure that the people's problems are solved.

Dismissing allegations that Barisan Nasional was involved in vote-buying during the Hulu Selangor by-election, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Barisan Nasional merely resolved the long-standing problems faced by the residents which had not been addressed for some time.

"We did not buy votes, we just solved their problems. We did not go around saying 'we will give you this and that' ... no ... we addressed the problems and gave the people what they wanted.

"For instance the construction of the Sungai Buaya interchange -- it would cut travelling time between 60 and 90 minutes and provide access to more than 100,000 users," he told a press conference after opening the Malaysia Green Forum 2010 here yesterday.

The interchange, a joint project between the government and concessionaire Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (PLUS), is expected to be built in the first quarter of next year.

It will benefit development in Sungai Buaya, Sungai Choh, Serendah and north Rawang. Najib was responding to the opposition's claim that Barisan Nasional had spent RM167 million (S$72 million) on projects to win votes in Hulu Selangor.

In Sunday's by-election Barisan Nasional's P. Kamalanathan won with a majority of 1,725 votes against Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

Najib said the opposition had also approved all kinds of projects for the people during by-elections.

"They have been doing it so please don't point fingers at Barisan Nasional ... look at yourself," he said.

The prime minister, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, said the victory in Hulu Selangor showed that the trend of support was moving in Barisan Nasional's favour.

"This is good because we fought the battle in a state controlled by the opposition ... we were handicapped.

"We must build on this victory which has given Barisan Nasional a new spirit and hope for the future,

"It should not be just a one-off victory ... we must focus on what needs to be done so that Barisan Nasional remains as the party of the future."

Najib said Barisan Nasional would conduct a post-mortem of the by-election results, adding that he was encouraged by the support of the people.

Also present were former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is Landskap Malaysia adviser and his wife Tun Jeanne Abdullah, who is chairman of Landskap Malaysia, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas and Putrajaya Corporation president Tan Sri Samsudin Osman.

Later at a press conference, Barisan Nasional and Umno secretary-general Tengku Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the coalition was considering legal action against Pakatan Rakyat and Zaid on their allegations of Barisan Nasional carrying out vote-buying which led to the victory.

"We are studying the legal aspects. Barisan Nasional won the by-election fair and square, but Pakatan refuses to acknowledge it. They lost because they could not bring changes to Hulu Selangor."

Tengku Adnan added Barisan Nasional won because the people accepted the prime minister's 1Malaysia concept and other measures he had introduced.

"Unlike Pakatan, Barisan had focus and direction."