2020 Chini by-election

The 2020 Chini by-election is a by-election held on 4 July 2020 for the Pahang State Legislative Assembly seat of Chini.[1] It was called following the death of incumbent, Abu Bakar Harun on 7 May.[2] The late Abu Bakar, a member from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) of Barisan Nasional (BN) was first elected as state assemblyman in the 2004 Malaysian general election and was into his fourth term as the incumbent.

2020 Chini by-election
4 July 2020
N23 Chini seat in the Pahang State Legislative Assembly
  BN IND IND
Candidate Mohd Sharim Md Zain Tengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli
Party UMNO Independent Independent
Alliance BN-MN-PN
Incumbent MLA

Abu Bakar Harun (died)
Barisan Nasional (UMNO)

The Election Commission (EC) had set the nomination day on 20 June 2020, early voting on 30 June and polling day for 4 July with a 14-day campaign period.[3]

Chini, one of four state seats under the Pekan parliamentary constituency currently held by Barisan Nasional (BN) adviser and former prime minister Najib Razak, is a majority Malay seat with 91% Malays, while the remaining are Chinese and others. The by-election is the first in the country since facing the political crisis and COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[4]

Nomination

Secretary-General of UMNO and BN, Annuar Musa confirmed that BN will place its candidate in the by-election[5] and continue to work with Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) on the concept of Muafakat Nasional (MN) as in the previous by-elections.[6] UMNO also confirmed it will represent BN to defend the seat.[7] Najib Razak’s eldest son, Mohd Nizar Najib who is the Pekan Umno Youth chief has been coined as a potential party candidate of the by-election.[8] On 18 June, Barisan Nasional nominated Mohd Sharim Md Zain, a Felda resident as it's candidate for the by-election.[9]

Pekan Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) deputy chief, Tengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin, announced his candidacy for the by-election as an independent candidate on 18 June. He will contest under the house logo on the election ballot.[10]

People's Justice Party (PKR) Secretary-general, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that Pakatan Harapan (PH) will not contest the by-election. Saifuddin cited that the COVID-19 pandemic may affect the safety of voters, therefore abandoning the race.[11] Conceding the coalition’s presidential council decision, PH might back independent candidate instead at the polls in order to fight against UMNO and BN.[12]

On Nomination Day, the BN candidate, alongside 2 independents, including social activist Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli who is contesting under the key logo, filed their nomination papers for a three-way race for the state assembly seat.[13]

Election results
Pahang state by-election, 2020: Chini
Upon the death of the incumbent, Abu Bakar Bin Harun
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
BNMohd Sharim Md Zain
IndependentTengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin
IndependentMohd Shukri Mohd Ramli
Total valid votes 100.00
Total rejected ballots
Unreturned ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 21,251
Majority
gain Swing

Previous result
Pahang state election, 2018: Chini
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
BNAbu Bakar Bin Harun10,02760.78-11.85
PASMohd.Fadhil Noor Bin Abdul Karim5,40532.76+4.78
PHMohd.Razali Bin Ithnain1,0656.46+6.46
Total valid votes 100.00
Total rejected ballots 232
Unreturned ballots
Turnout 16,49778.72
Registered electors 21,251
Majority 4,62228.02-19.1
BN hold Swing
"undi.info-CHINI (P85-N23)". MalaysiaKini. 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.

References
  1. "Chini by-election on July 4". The Edge Market. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  2. "ADUN Chini meninggal dunia". Sinar Harian. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  3. "EC sets July 4 for Chini by-election". New Straits Times. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  4. "Covid-19 ushers in the new normal for Chini by-election". New Straits Times. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  5. "BN akan letak calon di PRK DUN Chini". Berita Harian. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  6. Haspaizi Zain (14 May 2020). "Muafakat Nasional to be activated for Chini polls". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  7. "UMNO to contest Chini by-election - Wan Rosdy". Bernama. The Edge Market. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  8. "Support for Najib's son to join Chini by-election". The Star. 30 May 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  9. Arfa Yunus (18 June 2020). "BN rests hope on Felda settler to retain Chini". New Straits Times. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  10. Nik Amirulmumin Nik Min (18 June 2020). "Timbalan Ketua Bersatu Bahagian Pekan umum bertanding Bebas". Sinar Harian. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  11. Emmanuel Santa Maria Chin (6 June 2020). "Pakatan won't field candidate in Chini by-election, cites Covid-19 threat as main reason". Malay Mail. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  12. Faiz Zainudin (6 June 2020). "PH might back independent candidate at Chini polls, says Fuziah". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  13. "BN's Sharim vs 2 independents in Chini by-election". Free Malaysia Today. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
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