2009 Penanti by-election

An election to fill the state assembly seat for Penanti was held on 31 May 2009. Penanti has 15,384 registered voters, with 73% of them Malays, 24% Chinese, 2% Indians and 0.7% of other communities.^[1] Dr Mansor Othman of the People's Justice Party (PKR) party won the election.

Election background

Penang Deputy Chief Minister and state assemblyperson Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin quit the state assembly seat of Penanti, Penang regarding allegations over his non-performance in public office and corruption allegations.^[2] Fairus was however cleared of the alleged corruption links with quarry operations in the state by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).^[3]

According to the mainstream media, Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim decided to force a by-election to allow his former political secretary Dr Mansor Othman to contest, win and automatically become Penang deputy Chief Minister.^[4] The Election Commission has set the nominations day for 23 May and polling day on 31 May for the Penanti state by-election in Penang.^[5]

Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak declared an election would be a waste of economic resources.^[6] As a result, he conclude that the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) would not contest the election.^[7] It would be the first election uncontested by the ruling coalition since independence.^[8] MCA supported foregoing the by-election and awarding the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) party coalition victory, as a means to reduce political tensions.^[9]

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad urged Barisan Nasional to contest the by-election.,^[10] but Barisan Nasional supreme council announced on 18 May 2009 that the party would not contest the Penanti state assembly seat in Penang.

Nominations

Penang PKR deputy chief Mansor Othman, a 54-year-old party veteran, was named the party's candidate.^[11] Three candidates ran as independents: former Penang PKR Wanita chief Aminah Abdullah, company manager Nai-Khan Ari and motivational expert Kamarul Ramizu Idris.^[12]

By-election results

PKR's Dr Mansor Othman won 6,052 of the 7,100 votes cast in the Penanti by-election on 31 May 2009. Independents Nai Khan Ari, Aminah Abdullah and Kamarul Ramizu Idris obtained 494, 392 and 56 votes respectively. The polling ended with a low turnout of 46.1% or 7,100 voters despite fair weather.^[13]^[14]

Penang state by-election, 31 May 2009: Penanti
The by-election was called due to the resignation of incumbent, Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	PKR	Mansor Othman	6,052	86.53
	Independent	Nai Khan Ari Nai Keow	494	7.06
	Independent	Aminah Abdullah	392	5.60
	Independent	Kamarul Ramizu Idris	56	0.80
Total valid votes			6,994	100.00
Total rejected ballots			107
Unreturned ballots			1
Turnout			7,102	46.16
Registered electors			15,384
Majority			5,558
	PKR hold		Swing
Source(s) "Pilihan Raya Kecil N.12 Penanti". Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2018-09-19.

References

^ "Penanti by-election likely to be 4-cornered fight". TheStar Online. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
^ "Mohammad Fairus quits Penanti seat". The Nut Graph. 16 April 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2009. ^{[dead link]}
^ "MACC clears Fairus of corruption charges". Sun2Surf. 23 April 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2009.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "BN's dilemma: To fight or not to fight". TheStar Online. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
^ "Penanti vote is on". Malaysian Insider. 27 April 2009. Archived from the original on 28 April 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
^ "Najib must walk the talk on '1 Malaysia' – Pauline Ng". The Malaysian Insider. 20 April 2009. Archived from the original on 20 April 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
^ "Najib: BN may not contest Penanti by-election". The New Straits Times. 18 April 2009. Archived from the original on April 19, 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
^ "Najib: BN may skip Penanti". Malaysian Insider. 18 April 2009. Archived from the original on 19 April 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
^ "MCA: It's democratic to skip Penanti". Malaysian Insider. 19 April 2009. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
^ "Dr M says BN must contest Penanti by-election". Malaysian Insider. 22 April 2009. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
^ "Mansor Othman is PKR candidate for Penanti by-election". Sun2Surf. 28 April 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2009.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Penanti by-election". TheStar Online. 23 May 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
^ "Penanti: Dr Mansor wins with 6,052 votes out of 7,100". TheStar Online. 31 May 2009. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
^ "Penanti:Mansor wins, heads for DCM office". Malaysian Insider. 31 May 2009. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2009.

By-elections in Malaysia

Federal

1950s	Kedah Tengah 1959
1960s	Kampar 1960 Telok Anson 1961 Kuala Trengganu Selatan 1962 Lipis 1962 Muar Selatan 1963 Bachok 1964 Seberang Selatan 1964 Krian Laut 1966 Bruas 1966 Kelantan Hilir 1967 Raub 1967 Pasir Mas Hulu 1967 Segamat Utara 1968 Kuantan 1968
1970s	Malacca Selatan 1971 Kapar 1971 Bau-Lundu 1971 Lipis 1972 Ulu Selangor 1972 Rembau-Tampin 1972 Kuala Kedah 1973 Johore Timor 1973 Rajang 1974 Selayang 1975 Pekan 1976 Kemaman 1976 Kimanis 1977 Panti 1977 Keningau 1977 Pontian 1978 Pelabuhan Kelang 1979
1980s	Mukah 1980 Kimanis 1981 Paloh 1981 Sri Gading 1981 Ulu Muda 1983 Tampin 1983 Seremban 1983 Padang Terap 1985 Ulu Padas 1985 Lubok Antu 1987 Limbawang 1987 Gopeng 1987 Johor Bahru 1988 Ampang Jaya 1989 Bentong 1989
1990s	Jerai 1992 Gua Musang 1995 Bagan 1995 Lipis 1997 Telok Intan 1997 Kuala Selangor 1997 Arau 1998
2000s	Telok Kemang 2000 Pendang 2002 Gaya 2002 Permatang Pauh 2008 Kuala Terengganu 2009 Bukit Gantang 2009
2010s	Hulu Selangor 2010 Sibu 2010 Batu Sapi 2010 Bukit Gelugor 2014 Teluk Intan 2014 Rompin 2015 Permatang Pauh 2015 Kuala Kangsar 2016 Sungai Besar 2016 Port Dickson 2018 Cameron Highlands 2019 Sandakan 2019 Tanjung Piai 2019
2020s	Kimanis 2020 Padang Serai 2022 Kuala Terengganu 2023 Pulai 2023 Kemaman 2023

State

1950s	Plentong 1959
1960s	Sri Lalang 1960 Grik 1960 Kota Tengah 1960 Pontian Kechil 1961 Gemas 1962 Rantau Panjang 1962 Port Swettenham 1963 Pahang Tua 1963 Telok Datoh 1963 Balik Pulau 1963 Jelai 1964 Tumpat Tengah 1964 Jitra 1965 Ayer Itam 1965 Rahang 1965 Sungei Bahru 1966 Kampong Bharu 1967 Tampoi 1967 Chukai 1967 Baling Barat 1968 Ranau 1968 Bachok Utara 1968 Bukit Serampang 1968 Pendang 1968 Serdang 1968
1970s	Bekok 1971 Yen-Merbok 1971 Pelagus 1971 Batu Rakit 1971 Sidam 1971 Muda 1971 Tumpat Barat 1972 Sebandi 1973 Kota Bharu Tengah 1973 Elopura 1973 Johore Lama 1973 Kajang 1973 Kuala Nerus 1973 Kuching Barat 1973 Engkilili-Skrang 1974 Pasir Puteh Tengah 1974 Bandar Kangar 1974 Sungei Bahru 1974 Parit Bakar 1974 Alor Pongsu 1974 Merbok 1975 Kuala Kinabatangan 1975 Labuan 1975 Lahad Datu 1975 Lunas 1976 Semariang 1976 Kiulu 1976 Kota Kinabalu 1976 Papar 1976 Moyog 1976 Tanjong Aru 1976 Bandar Penggaram 1977 Balingian 1977 Bertam 1977 Parit Jawa 1977 Kenering 1977 Matunggong 1977 Jempol 1977 Morib 1978 Tendong 1978 Matunggong 1978 Inanam 1978 Kampong Jawa 1978 Titi Tinggi 1978 Machan 1978 Kampong Kolam 1978 Muara Tuang 1979 Kuching Timor 1979 Kuala Besut 1979 Balung 1979 Ranau 1979
1980s	Oya 1980 Bukit Raya 1980 Kemabong 1980 Sugut 1980 Pengkalan Kota 1980 Bengkoka 1981 Sebandi 1981 Matu-Daro 1981 Satok 1981 Sipitang 1981 Ulu Muar 1981 Balung 1981 Kunak 1981 Lumadan 1981 Gemencheh 1982 Tandek 1982 Usukan 1982 Kepayang 1982 Binjai 1982 Banggi 1983 Kenering 1983 Bandar Raub 1983 Tamparuli 1983 Kemumin 1983 Selising 1983 Rungkup 1983 Tambunan 1984 Bandar Maran 1986 Sukau 1986 Balung 1986 Buang Sayang 1986 Karamunting 1986 Oya 1986 Sulaman 1986 Bukit Tuku 1987 Usukan 1987 Bongawan 1987 Tanjong Puteri 1988 Parit Raja 1988 Teluk Pasu 1989 Tambatan 1989 Teruntum 1989 Sungai Besar 1989 Ranau 1989
1990s	Pantai Merdeka 1990 Kuala Linggi 1990 Kijal 1990 Sipitang 1990 Sulabayan 1990 Bayu 1991 Usukan 1991 Prai 1991 Limbongan 1991 Sungai Pinang 1991 Serkam 1991 Jerlun 1991 Bukit Payung 1992 Batu Kawah 1992 Batu Talam 1993 Kampung Raja 1993 Sementa 1994 Lundang 1994 Shahbandar Raya 1994 Sulabayan 1995 Bukit Asahan 1996 Pulai Chondong 1997 Bukit Begunan 1997 Repah 1997 Kemena 1997 Permatang 1997 Melekek 1997 Semerak 1997 Kidurong 1997 Changkat Jering 1997 Sungai Bakap 1997
2000s	Sanggang 2000 Lunas 2000 Indera Kayangan 2002 Ketari 2002 Anak Bukit 2002 Kuala Berang 2004 Ba'kelalan 2004 Pengkalan Pasir 2005 Batu Talam 2007 Machap 2007 Ijok 2007 Batang Air 2009 Bukit Selambau 2009 Penanti 2009 Manek Urai 2009 Permatang Pasir 2009 Bagan Pinang 2009
2010s	Galas 2010 Tenang 2011 Kerdau 2011 Merlimau 2011 Kuala Besut 2013 Sungai Limau 2013 Kajang 2014 Balingian 2014 Pengkalan Kubor 2014 Chempaka 2015 Tanjong Datu 2017 Sungai Kandis 2018 Balakong 2018 Seri Setia 2018 Semenyih 2019 Rantau 2019
2020s	Chini 2020 Slim 2020 Bugaya 2022 Tioman 2022 Simpang Jeram 2023 Pelangai 2023 Jepak 2023 Kuala Kubu Baharu 2024 Sungai Bakap 2024