A by-election was held on 4 July 2020 for the seat of Chini in the Pahang State Legislative Assembly.[1] The seat became vacant following the death of the incumbent Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) of Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, Abu Bakar Harun on 7 May 2020 who had held the seat since 2004.[2] Mohd Sharim Md Zain from BN won the by-election with a 12,650 majority to retain the seat again.[3]
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N23 Chini seat in the Pahang State Legislative Assembly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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.[4]
Chini, one of the four state constituencies within the Pekan federal constituency which is currently held by BN's adviser and former Prime Minister Najib Razak, is a majority Malay seat with 91% Malays. There are 20,990 registered voters for the Chini by-election comprising 20,972 ordinary voters and 18 early voters. The voters comprise 10,269 men and 10,721 women. This will be the first election in the country following the 2020 political crisis and COVID-19 pandemic.[5] The by-election to be conducted under the special standard operating procedure (SOP) imposed by EC due to the New Normal as the country is still observing the recovery phase of Movement Control Order (MCO) for COVID-19.[6]
Nominations edit
Secretary-General of UMNO and BN, Annuar Musa confirmed that BN will place its candidate in the by-election[7] and continue to work with Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) on the concept of Muafakat Nasional (MN) as in the previous by-elections.[8] UMNO also confirmed it will represent BN to defend the seat.[9] 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.[10] On 18 June, Barisan Nasional decided to nominate Mohd Sharim Md Zain, a FELDA resident as its candidate for the by-election.[11]
Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) had also declared its full support to the chosen BN candidate who will be representing the new Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.[12] Pekan BERSATU deputy chief, Tengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin, however announced his candidacy for the by-election as an Independent candidate on 18 June.[13]
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.[14] Conceding the coalition's presidential council decision, PH might back independent candidate instead at the polls in order to fight against UMNO and BN.[15]
On Nomination Day, the BN candidate Mohd Sharim, alongside two independents; later-got-sacked BERSATU's Tengku Zainul (house logo) and social activist Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli (key logo), filed their nomination papers for a three-way race for the state assembly seat.[16]
Result edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BN | Mohd Sharim Md Zain | 13,872 | 91.08 | -2.46 | ||
| Independent | Tengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin | 1,222 | 8.02 | +1.56 | ||
| Independent | Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli | 137 | 0.90 | N/A | ||
| Total valid votes | 15,231 | 100.00 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 239 | |||||
| Unreturned ballots | 36 | |||||
| Turnout | 15,506 | 73.87 | ||||
| Registered electors | 20,990 | |||||
| Majority | 12,650 | |||||
| BN hold | Swing | -2.01 | ||||
Source(s)
1. "His Majesty's Government Gazette - Notice of Contested Election, By-election of State Legislative Assembly of N.23 Chini for the State of Pahang [P.U. (B) 287/2020]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-05.[permanent dead link] 2. "Federal Government Gazette - Results of Contested Election and Statements of the Poll after the Official Addition of Votes for the By-election of N.23 Chini [P.U. (B) 320/2020]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-06.[permanent dead link] | ||||||
Results based on polling district edit
BN won all polling districts and post and early votes.[17]
| Polling District | Polling District Code | Polling Station | Polling Station No. | Voters (2016) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terpai | 085/23/01 | SK Kinchir | 2 | 428 |
| Salong | 085/23/02 | Dewan Mempelas Kampung Baru PPSK Salong Mukim Penyor 1 | 2 | 296 |
| Mambang | 085/23/03 | SK Mambang | 3 | 708 |
| Paloh Hinai | 085/23/04 | SMK Paloh Hinai | 4 | 807 |
| Kampung Dusun | 085/23/05 | Balai Raya & Perpustakaan Desa Kampung Dusun | 3 | 480 |
| FELDA Chini Timur 3 & 4 | 085/23/06 | SK LKTP Chini Timur 2 | 3 | 649 |
| FELDA Chini Timur 1 | 085/23/07 | SK LKTP Chini Timur 1 | 7 | 1,661 |
| FELDA Chini Timur 2 | 085/23/08 | SMK Chini Timur | 6 | 1,399 |
| FELDA Chini 5 | 085/23/09 | SK LKTP Chini 3 & 5 | 6 | 1,467 |
| FELDA Chini 4 | 085/23/10 | SK LKTP Chini 1 & 4 | 7 | 1,685 |
| FELDA Chini 1 | 085/23/11 | 1. Sekolah Agama Rakyat (KAFA) Nur Ilham FELDA Chini 1 2. Dewan Semai Bakti Kampung FELDA Chini 1 |
7 | 1,746 |
| FELDA Chini 2 | 085/23/12 | SMK Chini 2 | 8 | 1,977 |
| FELDA Chini 3 | 085/23/13 | 1. KAFA Kelas Al-Quran Dan Fardu Ain FELDA Chini 03 2. Dewan Semai Bakti Kampung FELDA Chini 3 |
7 | 2,030 |
| Undi Awal | 058/23/00 | Balai Polis Chini Bilik Maklumat | 2 | 17 |
Previous result edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BN | Abu Bakar Harun | 10,027 | 60.78 | -11.85 | ||
| PAS | Mohd. Fadhil Noor Abdul Karim | 5,405 | 32.76 | +4.78 | ||
| Pakatan Harapan (2018) | Mohd. Razali Ithnain | 1,065 | 6.46 | +6.46 | ||
| Total valid votes | 16,497 | 100.00 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 232 | |||||
| Unreturned ballots | 69 | |||||
| Turnout | 16,798 | 79.05 | ||||
| Registered electors | 21,251 | |||||
| Majority | 4,622 | 28.02 | ||||
| BN hold | Swing | |||||
Source(s) "His Majesty's Government Gazette - Notice of Contested Election, State Legislative Assembly for the State of Pahang [P.U. (B) 254/2018]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-01.[permanent dead link] "Federal Government Gazette - Results of Contested Election and Statements of the Poll after the Official Addition of Votes, State Constituencies for the State of Pahang [P.U. (B) 328/2018]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-01.[permanent dead link] | ||||||
References edit
- ^ "Chini by-election on July 4". The Edge Market. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "ADUN Chini meninggal dunia". Sinar Harian. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Pilihan Raya Kecil N.23 Chini - Keputusan Penuh PRK". Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya Malaysia. Archived from the original on 2020-07-06.
- ^ "EC sets July 4 for Chini by-election". New Straits Times. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Covid-19 ushers in the new normal for Chini by-election". New Straits Times. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Special SOP for Chini by-election a benchmark for future elections: EC". Bernama. The Sun Daily. 30 May 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "BN akan letak calon di PRK DUN Chini". Berita Harian. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ TN Alagesh (June 24, 2020). "Chini by-election: BN candidate hyped up for challenge". New Straits Times. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "UMNO to contest Chini by-election - Wan Rosdy". Bernama. The Edge Market. 14 May 2020. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Support for Najib's son to join Chini by-election". The Star. 30 May 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ Arfa Yunus (18 June 2020). "BN rests hope on Felda settler to retain Chini". New Straits Times. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ "Chini by-election: Bersatu will support BN candidate". New Straits Times. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ Nik Amirulmumin Nik Min (18 June 2020). "Timbalan Ketua Bersatu Bahagian Pekan umum bertanding Bebas". Sinar Harian. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Faiz Zainudin (6 June 2020). "PH might back independent candidate at Chini polls, says Fuziah". Free Malaysia Today. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "BN's Sharim vs 2 independents in Chini by-election". Free Malaysia Today. 20 June 2020. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ "走进珍尼，一窥珍尼之美（系列二）：油棕是垦殖民收入来源". Sin Chew Daily (星洲网) (in Chinese).
