Wikipedia

2023 Simpang Jeram by-election

The 2023 Simpang Jeram by-election was a by-election held on 9 September 2023 for the Johor State Legislative Assembly seat of Simpang Jeram.[1] It was called following the death of incumbent, Salahuddin Ayub on 23 July 2023. The by-election were held on the same day as the 2023 Pulai by-election.[2] Salahuddin was a 2-term Member of Parliament for Pulai, and also 2-term Member of Johor State Assembly for Simpang Jeram, both since 2018. He was a member and Deputy chairman (2015-2023) of the National Trust Party (AMANAH), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.

2023 Simpang Jeram by-election
← 2022 9 September 2023 Next →
N13 Simpang Jeram seat in the Johor State Legislative Assembly
  First party Second party
  PH PN
Candidate Nazri Abdul Rahman Mohd Mazri Yahya
Party AMANAH PAS
Alliance PH PN
Popular vote 13,844 10,330
Percentage 56.54% 42.19%
Simpang Jeram assemblyman before election

Salahuddin Ayub (died)
Pakatan Harapan (AMANAH)

Elected Simpang Jeram assemblyman

Nazri Abdul Rahman
Pakatan Harapan (AMANAH)

Nomination and campaign edit

Nomination day were announced by Election Commission (EC) to be on 26 August 2023.[3] On the nomination day, 3 candidates were accepted: Nazri Abdul Rahman from PH, Mohd Mazri Yahya from Perikatan Nasional (PN), and Jeganathan Subramaniam as an independent.[4]

Nazri were announced as PH candidate in a media conference by AMANAH President, Mohamad Sabu on 19 August.[5] He is the AMANAH deputy chief of Bakri, and an engineer by profession.[6] Nazri has said, in an interview to Bernama, that his main agenda is to solve the drainage problem which led to flash floods at the constituency, as well as improving the local economy.[7] He also promised to continue the groundwork laid by Salahuddin in the constituency.

Mazri, from Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), were announced as PN's candidate by PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin on 23 August.[8] A vascular and endovascular surgeon by trade, he is the PAS Central Committee member, and also Johor PAS Deputy Commissioner.[9] He has contested in Simpang Jeram before in 2018, as well as Pulai federal seat in 2018; both which were lost to Salahuddin.[10] Mazri unveiled his manifesto on 6 September, focusing on affordable housing, flash flood solutions, youth sports and recreation program, and more support for people with disabilities in the area.[11]

Jeganathan, a local businessman from Taman Bakri Jaya and former Malaysian Indian Congress member, had participated in the state elections twice before: in 2018 and 2022, both in Bukit Naning state seat. On both occasions, he lost his deposit.[12][13] He listed his ability to speak English, Malay, Tamil, Mandarin and Hokkien as an advantage for his campaign.[13][14] Jeganathan also revealed his six-point manifesto, including a food bank with monthly contribution on RM1,000 from him, and emergency van for those in need.[11] Jeganathan decided this would be his last election if he loses again, after spending more than RM50,000 on helping the locals.[15]

Notably, this was the first Johor state election without candidates from Barisan Nasional (BN) since 2004,[note 1] traditionally the dominant party in the state and the current state government party. After formation of federal government consisting of the alliance between PH and BN in the aftermath of the general election in November 2022, both Simpang Jeram and Pulai by-election saw the first collaboration between BN and PH at Johor state level, as BN acceded to PH to put its candidate there,[16] as well as campaigning together.[17]

Think tank Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research data analyst Azlan Musyabri suggests that PN could win both seats, if the voter turnout trend is the same as the 2022 state election, but also suggested PH would retain both seats if BN voters support the PH candidate as well as increase of support from non-Malay voters from the 2022 election.[18] Bridget Welsh, another political analyst based in Kuala Lumpur, predicted the result will hinge on either voters respect for Salahuddin legacy, or voters response to BN and UMNO president Zahid Hamidi discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) of his 47 court cases just days before the election.[19] Other analysts, such as Dr Azmi Hassan also from Nusantara Academy, and Dr Ainul Adzellie Hasnul, believe that Zahid's DNAA, and also another UMNO leader Bung Mokhtar Radin acquittal of his own court case a day after, will not affect PH-BN negatively in the by-elections.[20]

Timeline edit

The key dates are listed below.

Date Event
3 August 2023 Issue of the Writ of Election
26 August 2023 Nomination Day
26 August–8 September 2023 Campaigning Period
9 September 2023 Polling Day

Results edit

Johor state by-election, 9 September 2023: Simpang Jeram
Upon the death of incumbent, Salahuddin Ayub
Party Candidate Votes % ∆%
PH Nazri Abdul Rahman 13,844 56.54 +15.60
PN Mohd Mazri Yahya 10,330 42.19 +12.47
Independent Jeganathan Subramaniam 311 1.27 +1.27
Total valid votes 24,485 100.00
Total rejected ballots 74
Unreturned ballots 12
Turnout 24,571 60.85
Registered electors 40,379
Majority 3,514
PH hold Swing
Source(s)
https://lom.agc.gov.my/ilims/upload/portal/akta/outputp/1857938/PUB%20400%20(2023).pdf

Previous results edit

Johor state election, 2022: Simpang Jeram
Party Candidate Votes %
PH Salahuddin Ayub 8,749 40.94
PN Zarul Salleh 6,350 29.72
BN Lokman Md Don 6,062 28.37
Homeland Fighters' Party Mahaizal Mahmor 208 0.97
Total valid votes 21,369 100.00
Total rejected ballots 387
Unreturned ballots 141
Turnout 21,897 54.72
Registered electors 40,014
Majority 2,399
PH hold Swing
Source(s)
[21][22]

Aftermath edit

Nazri, the winner of the by-election, were sworn in as the new MLA for Simpang Jeram on 14 September at the third meeting of the second session of the 15th Johor State Assembly.[23]

Notes edit

  1. ^ The BN candidate nomination for Senggarang in the 2004 Johor state election were rejected on technical grounds by the EC.

References edit

  1. ^ "PRK Parlimen Pulai, Dun Simpang Jeram ditetapkan 9 September - SPR". Harian Metro. 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  2. ^ "Salahuddin Ayub meninggal dunia". Harian Metro. 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  3. ^ SHAH, MOHD FARHAAN (18 August 2023). "Simpang Jeram by-election: One candidate has so far paid deposit, says Johor EC". The Star. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  4. ^ SHADIQE, JASSMINE (26 August 2023). "3-cornered fight in Pulai, Simpang Jeram by-elections [Updated]". nst.com.my. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  5. ^ Amin, Manzaidi Mohd (19 August 2023). "Suhaizan, Ir. Nazri calon Amanah PRK Parlimen Pulai, DUN Simpang Jeram". MalaysiaGazette (in Malay). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  6. ^ Bernama (19 August 2023). "Simpang Jeram by-election: Amanah candidate Nazri pledges to keep late Salahuddin's plans on track". The Star. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  7. ^ Bernama (23 August 2023). "By-election: Amanah candidate Nazri no stranger to serving the people". www.astroawani.com. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  8. ^ Xiang Yun, Yee (23 August 2023). "Perikatan to field Zulkifli Jaafar for Pulai by-election, Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya for Simpang Jeram". The Star. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  9. ^ Mohamed Farid Noh; Izz Laily Hussein (23 August 2023). "Zulkifli, Dr Mohd Mazri calon PN di Pulai, Simpang Jeram". Harian Metro (in Malay). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  10. ^ "MOHD MAZRI YAHYA". PRU @ Sinar Harian. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  11. ^ a b Tan, Ben (6 September 2023). "Perikatan candidate Dr Mazri lists four offers for Simpang Jeram voters including affordable housing plan". Malay Mail. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Jeganathan may just defy the odds this time". The Star. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  13. ^ a b ZAINI, SHAHRIZAL AHMAD (26 August 2023). "Jeganathan guna kelebihan bertutur bahasa Hokkien dekati pengundi". Sinar Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  14. ^ Devi, Venesa (31 August 2023). "Jeganathan making full use of Mandarin and Hokkien". The Star. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  15. ^ Abd Rani, Alias (8 September 2023). "'Simpang Jeram pilihan raya terakhir saya' - Jeganaathan". Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  16. ^ Abu Yamin, Essa (3 August 2023). "BN beri laluan AMANAH tanding di Parlimen Pulai, DUN Simpang Jeram". Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  17. ^ Bernama (26 August 2023). "Pulai, Simpang Jeram by-elections, test for PH-BN pact". Malay Mail. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  18. ^ Kasinathan, Shathana (5 September 2023). "Analysis suggests Perikatan has chance to win Pulai, Simpang Jeram by-elections if voter turnout same as Johor state polls". Malay Mail. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  19. ^ Welsh, Bridget (6 September 2023). "Changing tide? A look at Pulai and Simpang Jeram - Bridget Welsh". Bridget Welsh | Educator, Scholar and Political Analyst. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  20. ^ Qistina Sallehuddin; Mandy Leong; Hazween Hassan (8 September 2023). "Zahid's DNAA will not affect outcome of Pulai, Simpang Jeram by-election [UPDATED]". nst.com.my. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  21. ^ "Keputusan #PRNJOHORBERNAMA #PRNJOHOR". prn.bernama.com. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  22. ^ "Dashboard SPR".
  23. ^ Bernama (14 September 2023). "Nazri sworn in as Simpang Jeram assemblyman". www.astroawani.com. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2023_Simpang_Jeram_by-election&oldid=1207753631"