Port Dickson by-election, 2018

Port Dickson federal constituency border and its corresponding state assembly seats.

A by-election was held on 13 October 2018 for the Dewan Rakyat seat of Port Dickson.[1] The seat became vacant after the resignation of the incumbent member Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, a member of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the governing Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.[2] This will be the first federal by-election since the historic May 2018 general election, which saw the first-ever change of government in Malaysia's history.

Danyal Balagopal resigned his seat to pave a way for PKR and PH leader Anwar Ibrahim to return to Parliament. Anwar was unable to contest the May 2018 election due to his imprisonment on sodomy charges, which were widely accepted as politically motivated. He received a royal pardon after PH defeated the then-ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) and came into power, restoring his political rights and his right to contest in elections.[1]

The Port Dickson parliamentary constituency has 75,770 registered voters in this by-election and they comprised 43% Malays, Chinese (33%), Indian (22%) and other races (2%).

Nomination

The nomination day for the by-election was 29 September 2018.

While PH confirmed early that it would be fielding Anwar in the by-election, the opposition did not announce its candidate until close to the nomination day. The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) was initially expected to not contest the by-election and lend its support to the Barisan Nasional (BN), like they did in the Sungai Kandis and Balakong by-elections.[3]

Criticisms were landed at PH for engineering the by-election too soon after the general election. BN politicians lambasted PH's move as an attempt to "coronate" Anwar.[4] This was repudiated by prominent PH leaders such as Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general and Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng. Lim said Anwar's return to Parliament was overdue and criticised BN's role in jailing Anwar when they were in government, thus preventing him to contest in the first place.[5]

A candidate from the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) was initially expected to contest for BN. Another BN component party, the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), announced that it would not contest the by-election for the coalition. The MIC said that their decision was a protest against UMNO's exclusion of their party from the candidacy consultations. They have previously contested the seat and its predecessor seat Telok Kemang for BN as recently as the 2018 federal elections.[6] Another BN component party, the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), also criticised UMNO's sidelining of other BN component parties and its cooperation with PAS.[7]

UMNO itself was divided on what approach it will be taking in the by-election. While most leaders were saying that the party would contest the seat, some prominent leaders were suggesting that the party should not contest and let Anwar win in a walkover.[8] Several UMNO politicians were even planning to support Anwar, therefore bucking their party's official stance. The most notable politician in the last category was former Tourism Minister Nazri Aziz.[9] BN ended up deciding not to contest, as a protest against the government's forcing of the by-election.[10]

To prevent the absence of opposition candidates, PAS moved to field their own candidate, a retired Lt Col ranked air force officer, Mohd Nazari Mokhtar.[11] Close to the nomination day, the field became more crowded with the surprise entry of two independent candidates, namely former Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan Mohd Isa Abdul Samad and former personal assistant of Anwar who was also the accuser in his second sodomy trial Saiful Bukhari Azlan.[12][13]

The other independent candidates contesting are social media activist Stevie Chan Keng Leong, former lecturer Lau Seck Yan and management consultant Kan Chee Yuen.[14]

An eight and last independent candidate to file his nomination papers, A Rajendra was disqualified because his proposer was not a registered voter in the Port Dickson constituency.[15]

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) originally stated that they would contest this by-election, but ended up not fielding a candidate.[12][16] PRM eventually sacked its designated candidate, Ahmad Kamarudin, an ex-PKR member for withdrawing from the by-election claiming insufficient funds for the electoral deposit only at the eleventh hour.[17]

Controversies

A voter in Port Dickson, Rosmadi Mohd Kassim has filed a judicial review at the High Court on 27 September 2018, seeking court declaration the resignation of incumbent PKR MP Danyal Balagopal Abdullah as unconstitutional thus the move by Election Commission (EC) to hold the by-election is null and void.[18] The High Court has dismissed the application on 2 October 2018.[19]

Another Port Dickson voter, Noraziah Mohd Shariff has filed on 28 September 2018 for a court declaration to invalidate the royal pardon received by Anwar which is a "full pardon" and not a "free pardon" under the Federal Constitution, that allow a former convict to contest.[20] PAS hopes that the court will disqualify Anwar after he wins and they are able to win the by-election through the back door when their candidate as the second highest votes will be declared the area's Member of Parliament.[21] EC chairman Azhar Azizan Harun has affirmed the agency's stand that Anwar was free and eligible to contest in the Port Dickson by-election on 9 October 2018.[22]

Campaigning

On 8 October 2018 Mahathir Mohamad broke the tradition as a Prime Minister to come to Port Dickson to campaign in a by-election for PH and to be on a same stage with Anwar after twenty years.[23]

Some UMNO members defied their party's official boycott and supported Mohd Isa including his own son.[24] The Indian-based political party Indian Progressive Front (IPF) has expressed support for PAS in the by-election.[25] The Negeri Sembilan Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (GERAKAN) announced their supports for Anwar.[26]

Result

Pakatan Harapan's Anwar Ibrahim won the Port Dickson by-election with 31,016 votes securing a 23,560-vote majority, with runner-up Mohd Nazari Mokhtar from PAS garnering 7,456 votes.[27]

Malaysian general by-election, 2018: Port Dickson
Upon the resignation of incumbent, Danyal Balagopal Abdullah
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
PHAnwar Ibrahim31,01671.3+12.2
PASMohd Nazari Mokhtar7,45617.1+6.4
IndependentMohd Isa Abdul Samad4,2309.7-20.5
IndependentStevie Chan Keng Leong3370.8+0.8
IndependentLau Seck Yan2140.5+0.5
IndependentKan Chee Yuen1540.4+0.4
IndependentSaiful Bukhari Azlan820.2+0.2
Total valid votes 43,48998.53+0.47
Rejected + Unreturned ballots 6471.47-0.47
Turnout 44,13658.25-24.9
Registered electors 75,770+558
Majority 23,56054.2
PH hold Swing

Previous result

Malaysian general election, 2018: Port Dickson
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
PHDanyal Balagopal Abdullah36,22559.06
BNMohan a/l Velayatham18,51530.19
PASMahfuz bin Roslan6,59410.75
Total valid votes 61,334 100.00
Total rejected ballots 948
Unreturned ballots 266
Turnout 62,54883.16
Registered electors 75,212
Majority 17,71028.87
PH hold Swing
Source(s)

"His Majesty's Government Gazette - Notice of Contested Election, Parliament for the State of Negeri Sembilan [P.U. (B) 242/2018]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-01.

"Federal Government Gazette - Results of Contested Election and Statements of the Poll after the Official Addition of Votes, Parliamentary Constituencies for the State of Negeri Sembilan [P.U. (B) 316/2018]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-01.

References

  1. 1 2 Kamarulzaman, Zikri (12 September 2018). "PKR executes 'PD Move' to pave way for Anwar's return". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  2. ↑ Bernama (12 September 2018). "Speaker confirms Port Dickson MP's resignation". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  3. ↑ Mohd, Hariz (13 September 2018). "Port Dickson polls: PAS to 'make way' for Umno". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "Khairy: Coronations are for kings and Anwar isn't one". Malaysiakini. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  5. ↑ Lim, Guan Eng (17 September 2018). "'Anwar's return to Parliament is overdue'". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  6. ↑ Kumar, B Nantha (13 September 2018). "MIC to sit out Port Dickson polls this time around". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  7. ↑ "'BN can kiss seats goodbye' - Wee says of Umno-PAS hook-up". Malaysiakini. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  8. ↑ "Umno Youth leaders: Give Anwar a walkover, enjoy the fireworks later". Malaysiakini. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  9. ↑ Kamarulzaman, Zikri (12 September 2018). "Nazri says will campaign for Anwar in PD by-election". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  10. ↑ Alhadjri, Alyaa (24 September 2018). "BN boycotts 'forced, wasteful' PD by-election". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  11. ↑ H. Rodzi, Nadirah (27 September 2018). "PAS picks former air force officer in Port Dickson by-election against Anwar Ibrahim". Straits Times. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  12. 1 2 Lim, Ida; Palanisamy, Yiswaree (4 October 2018). "PRM to contest in Port Dickson by-election". Malay Mail. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  13. ↑ "Anwar's ex-aide Saiful to join the fray". Malaysiakini. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  14. ↑ "Voters want Port Dickson to be developed like Langkawi". Bernama. The Sun Daily. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  15. ↑ "PD by-election: One disqualified, seven to fight for seat". The Edge Markets. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  16. ↑ Nambiar, Predeep (21 September 2018). "PRM to contest in Port Dickson by-election". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  17. ↑ Sharina Ahmad (1 October 2018). "PRM urged to sack would-be PD candidate for dropping out of race". Malay Mail. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  18. ↑ Vathani Panirchellvum (27 September 2018). "Man files judicial review to stop PD by-election". The Sun Daily. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  19. ↑ Rahmat Khairulrijal (2 October 2018). "Port Dickson by-election: Court dismisses application to declare resignation of MP null and void". The New Straits Times. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  20. ↑ "PD voter seeks to disqualify Anwar from by-election". Malaysiakini. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  21. ↑ Tarrence Tan (7 October 2018). "PAS hopes to win Port Dickson seat via back door if Anwar is disqualified". The Star. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  22. ↑ Amar Shah Mohsen (9 October 2018). "Anwar is free and eligible to contest in PD: EC chairman". The Sun Daily. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  23. ↑ "Port Dickson by-election: Dr M's presence will boost Anwar's support, says Wan Azizah". Bernama. The Star. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  24. ↑ Syed Umar Ariff; Ifwan Tun Tuah (30 September 2018). "Son campaigns for Isa Samad in Port Dickson". The New Straits Times. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  25. ↑ B Nantha Kumar (10 October 2018). "Indian-based party pledges support for PAS candidate". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  26. ↑ "Gerakan Negeri Sembilan isytihar sokong Anwar di PD" (in Malay). Malaysiakini. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  27. ↑ "Official: Anwar wins PD by-election with bigger majority than GE14". Malaysiakini. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
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