2019 Tanjung Piai by-election
16 November 2019
P165 Tanjung Piai seat in the Dewan Rakyat
  First party Second party Third party
  BN PH GERAKAN
Candidate Wee Jeck Seng Karmaine Sardini Wendy Subramaniam
Party MCA BERSATU GERAKAN
Alliance BN PH
Popular vote 25,466 10,380 1,707
Percentage 65.60% 26.74% 4.40%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  BERJASA IND IND
Candidate Badhrulhisham Abd Aziz Ang Chuan Lock Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar
Party BERJASA Independent Independent
Alliance GS
Popular vote 850 380 32
Percentage 2.19% 0.98% 0.08%
P165 Tanjung Piai federal constituency border and its corresponding state assembly seats.
MP before election

Md Farid Md Rafik (died)
Pakatan Harapan (BERSATU)

 Elected MP

Wee Jeck Seng
Barisan Nasional (MCA)

The 2019 Tanjung Piai by-election was a by-election held on 16 November 2019 for the Dewan Rakyat seat of Tanjung Piai. It was called following the death of incumbent, Md Farid Md Rafik on 21 September 2019.[1][2]

The late Md Farid, a member from the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) of Pakatan Harapan (PH) was first elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Tanjung Piai in Johor defeating the then incumbent Wee Jeck Seng from the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) of Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and Nordin Othman from the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Front (BERJASA), which contested under the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) banner through the Gagasan Sejahtera with a slim majority of 524 votes in 2018 general election (GE14).[3] He was then appointed as Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for National Unity and Social Well-being.[4]

The Election Commission (EC) had set the polling day for 16 November 2019, early voting on 12 November and nomination day on 2 November with a 14-day campaign period.[5]

The electoral roll in the parliamentary constituency to be used would be the one up to the second quarter of 2019 which was last updated on 23 September 2019 with a total of 52,986 voters made up of 52,698 ordinary voters, 280 early voters while 8 absentee voters (who are abroad).[6] Tanjung Piai is a racially-mixed seat with 57% Malays, 42% Chinese and 1% Indian.[7]

The by-election, the ninth since GE14 will be the first for election in Malaysia in which 18-year-olds and above can contest in an election as a result of the new constitutional amendment. However, voters who haven't achieved 21-years-old aren't eligible to vote in this by-election.[8]

BN's Wee Jeck Seng had won the by-election by a landslide majority of 15,086 votes to return to be the MP for Tanjung Piai again but as an Opposition. BN had claimed 25,466 votes to wrest back the seat they lost in last GE14 from PH which only claimed 10,380 votes.[9]

BERSATU's heavy defeat in this by-election contributed to Muhyiddin Yassin's decision to pull BERSATU out of Pakatan Harapan in February 2020, resulting in the Sheraton Move. All 4 parties that participated in this election (MCA, BERSATU, GERAKAN and BERJASA) later became member parties or allied parties of Perikatan Nasional in 2020.

Nomination

PH deputy president and Johor state chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said the coalition will discuss on the strategy and candidate for the by-election in a meeting on 4 October.[10][11] BERSATU was expected to decide the candidate to defend the seat for PH;[12][13] with the full support of other PH component parties; National Trust Party (AMANAH), Democratic Action Party (DAP) and People's Justice Party (PKR) which had indicated their endorsements.[14][15][16] Karmaine Sardini, the 66-year-old architect-businessman and Tanjung Piai BERSATU chief, who had lost to BN's Ahmad Maslan in the adjacent Pontian constituency by a slim majority in the GE14 was picked as the PH's candidate on 28 October.[17]

BN component parties were reported jostling for the seat soon after it was vacant.[18][19][20] United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) said that it will discuss with other BN counterparts on the candidate for the by-election.[21] MCA had also announced that they are ready to contest to wrest back the seat.[22] BN and UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi anyway has hinted that UMNO might contest the by-election.[23] Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has insisted that MCA should be retained to contest the seat instead of UMNO representing BN.[24] BN had finally chosen Wee Jeck Seng, the 55-year-old Tanjung Piai MCA chief and former two-term Tanjung Piai MP until he had lost narrowly to PH in GE14, as their candidate again to recapture the seat back in the by-election.[25]

President of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (GERAKAN), Dominic Lau has confirmed that the party has decided contesting the by-election after sitting out the previous eight by-election.[26] GERAKAN had named its deputy secretary general, Wendy Subramaniam, who is a 38-year-old lawyer of mixed Indian-Chinese parentage from Johor Bahru as their candidate for the by-election.[27] It will be contesting using its own logo back again since 1969 and after it left the BN in 2018 which saw the coalition GE14 downfall.[28]

President of BERJASA which candidate had contested the last general election under the PAS ticket, Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz had urged the BN to nominate a Malay-Muslim candidate based on the spirit of UMNO-PAS pact of Muafakat Nasional.[29] It even offered to nominate a credible BERJASA Malay candidate for the by election.[30] Following the lack of Malay candidate alternatives in the by-election, BERJASA has confirmed their candidacy for the by-election on their own ticket[31] and their 56-year-old party president, Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz as their candidate for the by-election

PAS vice-president Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah had stated PAS will support BN candidate[32] and its former secretary-general Mustafa Ali even proposed MCA to contest the seat.[33] PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has reaffirmed its supports and commitments to campaign for BN even the candidate is from MCA despite the just inked Piagam Muafakat Nasional (National Cooperation Charter) of UMNO-PAS pact.[34]

President of Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (PUTRA), Ibrahim Ali had initially said that PUTRA will field a candidate in Tanjung Piai if the contesting parties field non-Malay candidates.[35] Somehow PUTRA decided not to contest the Tanjung Piai by-election as to focus on its preparations for the next general election.[36]

The Gabungan Teksi Se-Malaysia (GTSM) announced that they will field Shamsubahrin Ismail who is the Big Blue Taxi founder as an independent candidate in the by-election to represent the public transport community.[37] Unfortunately, he did not file his nomination papers during Nomination Day as he suffered a heart attack and was replaced with a single mother, Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar.[38]

On Nomination Day, 6 candidates including PH's Karmaine, BN's Wee, GERAKAN's Wendy, BERJASA's Badhrulhisham and two independents – Ang Chuan Lock (key logo), 49, tuition centres operator and Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar (car logo), 45, a social auditor have registered and has set for a six-cornered fight in the Tanjung Piai polls.[39]

Controversies and issues

UMNO and MCA had expressed their dissatisfaction over EC setting the by-election nomination and polling dates on 2 and 16 November respectively, which will coincide with earlier planned annual general meeting's (AGM) of both parties; MCA's on 2–3 November and UMNO's on 13–16 November.[40][41] EC in expressing its regret had clarified it was not deliberate and was unavoidable because of the forthcoming Deepavali public holiday on 27 October.[42][43] Both the parties had decided to defer their AGM to avoid clashing with the by-election crucial dates.[44][45]

DAP vice-chairperson M. Kulasegaran, who is also Human Resources Minister, in a statement refuting allegations of his connection to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militant group, has linked accusations that DAP supports the LTTE to the forth coming Tanjung Piai by-election.[46] He also called on the police to investigate such fake news went viral on social media which following earlier police arrest and detention of seven individuals, including DAP's Malacca state exco cum assemblyman for Gadek G. Saminathan and Negeri Sembilan state assemblyman for Seremban Jaya P. Gunasekaran, over alleged links to the LTTE.[47] PUTRA's president Ibrahim Ali also had claimed the agenda of the LTTE issue is to attract the Malay votes in the by-election.[48]

Johor UMNO chief Hasni Mohammad had said that hopefully there wouldn't be a second by-election the next coming year in relation to the PH candidate's elderly age.[49] Hasni was condemned by BERSATU for mocking the PH candidate's age and predicting his lifespan.[50]

Results

Malaysian general by-election, 2019: Tanjung Piai
Upon the death of the incumbent, Md Farid Md Rafik
Party Candidate Votes %∆%
BNWee Jeck Seng25,46665.60+19.48
PHKarmaine Sardini10,38026.74-20.55
Parti Gerakan Rakyat MalaysiaWendy Subramaniam1,7074.40N/A
Pan-Malaysian Islamic FrontBadhrulhisham Abd Aziz8502.19-4.40
IndependentAng Chuan Lock3800.98N/A
IndependentFaridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar320.08N/A
Total valid votes 38,815100.00
Total rejected ballots 595
Unreturned ballots 30
Turnout 39,43574.43
Registered electors 52,986
Majority 15,08638.86
BN gain from PH Swing +20.02

Results according to polling districts

BN won all polling districts and post and early votes.

Previous Result

Malaysian general election, 2018: Tanjung Piai
Party Candidate Votes %∆%
PHMd Farid Md Rafik21,25547.29+ 47.29
BNWee Jeck Seng20,73146.12- 10.00
Pan-Malaysian Islamic PartyNordin Othman2,9626.59+ 6.59
Total valid votes 44,948 100.00
Total rejected ballots 841
Unreturned ballots 69
Turnout 45,85885.67
Registered electors 53,528
Majority 5241.17
PH gain from BN Swing ?
Source(s)

"His Majesty's Government Gazette - Notice of Contested Election, Parliament for the State of Johore [P.U. (B) 244/2018]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 3 May 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 December 2019. 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 Johore [P.U. (B) 318/2018]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-01.

Note: Nordin Othman was a candidate of BERJASA, who had contested under the PAS banner through the Gagasan Sejahtera pact.[51]

Aftermath

After the Sheraton Move, Wee Jeck Seng was appointed as Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities I in both cabinets of Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob. He eventually successfully retained his parliamentary seat in the 2022 general election.

References

  1. ↑ "Deputy Minister in PM's Dept Md Farid dies aged 42". New Straits Times. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  2. ↑ "Tanjung Piai MP and deputy minister, Dr Md Farid dies". Malay Mail. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  3. ↑ Mohd Farhaan Shah (28 September 2019). "Johor BN to submit only one name". The Star Online. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  4. ↑ "Tanjung Piai MP Md Farid Md Rafik dies". The Star Online. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  5. ↑ Mazwin Nik Anis (1 October 2019). "Tanjung Piai by-election set for Nov 16, nomination on Nov 2". The Star Online. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  6. ↑ "Tanjung Piai by-election on Nov 16". Bernama. The Borneo Post. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  7. ↑ "All eyes on Tanjung Piai by-election in Johor as polling date set for Nov 16". Channel News Asia. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  8. ↑ Mazwin Nik Anis, Clarissa Chung (2 October 2019). "18-year-olds can't vote in by-election". The Star Online. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  9. ↑ "Barisan Nasional wins Tg Piai by-election with 15,086 vote majority". The Star Online. 16 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  10. ↑ Azura Abas, Hashini Kavishtri Kannan (3 October 2019). "PH to implement effective election strategy for Tanjung Piai by-election". New Straits Times. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  11. ↑ Nelson Benjamin (4 October 2019). "Johor MB to lead the charge in Tanjung Piai by-election". The Star Online. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  12. ↑ "Bersatu: We will defend Tanjung Piai seat". The Star Online. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  13. ↑ Mohd Fahmi Mohd Yusof (2 October 2019). "Tanjung Piai by-election: Bersatu to decide on candidate on Friday". New Straits Times. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  14. ↑ "T. Piai by-election: Amanah will support whoever is chosen as PH's candidate, says Salahuddin". Bernama. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  15. ↑ Fion Yap (24 September 2019). "Guan Eng signals DAP not reclaiming Tanjung Piai from Bersatu". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  16. ↑ "PKR endorses Bersatu candidate in Tanjung Piai by-election". Malaysiakini. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  17. ↑ "Harapan to field Tg Piai Bersatu chief for by-election". Malaysiakini. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  18. ↑ "Parties jostle for Tanjung Piai seat day after MP is laid to rest". Malaysiakini. 22 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  19. ↑ Lu Wei Hoong (26 September 2019). "Kapar MCA to quit party if Umno fields candidate in Tanjung Piai". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  20. ↑ SM Amin (1 October 2019). "Umno branch leaders demand Tg Piai seat, threaten sabotage if MCA stands". The Malaysian Insight. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  21. ↑ "Umno to discuss Tanjung Piai candidate following MP Farid's death". The Star Online. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  22. ↑ Sarban Singh (23 September 2019). "MCA wants to wrest PH seat". The Star Online. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  23. ↑ "Ahmad Zahid hints that Umno might contest in Tanjung Piai". Bernama. Malaysiakini. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  24. ↑ "MIC wants BN to maintain tradition, allow MCA to contest Tanjung Piai by-election". The Star Online. 8 October 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  25. ↑ "BN confirms MCA's Jeck Seng as candidate for Tanjung Piai by-election". Free Malaysia Today. 30 October 2019. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  26. ↑ "Gerakan throws hat into the ring for Tanjung Piai". Malaysiakini. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  27. ↑ Ng Xiang Yi (29 October 2019). "Gerakan fielding deputy sec-gen Wendy Subramaniam in Tanjung Piai by-election". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  28. ↑ "Wendy trilled to represent Gerakan". The Star Online. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  29. ↑ Thalhah Kamarol (28 September 2019). "Parlimen Tg Piai: BERJASA Gesa Letak Calon Muslim" (in Malay). BERJASA. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  30. ↑ Siti Hafidah (1 October 2019). "Tg Piai: Berjasa sedia tanding, pertaruh calon Melayu wibawa". ismaweb.net (in Malay). ISMA. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  31. ↑ "Berjasa umum tanding PRK Tanjung Piai" (in Malay). Sinar Harian. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  32. ↑ Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah (25 September 2019). "Pas will support MCA candidate in Tanjung Piai by-election". New Straits Times. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  33. ↑ Mohd Aizat Shamsuddin (29 September 2019). "Tanjung Piai seat should be contested by MCA". New Straits Times. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  34. ↑ Mohd Aizat Shamsuddin Marang (29 September 2019). "HADI: PAS WILL BACK BN CANDIDATE". New Straits Times. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  35. ↑ "Tg Piai - Putra to contest if others field non-Malay candidate". Bernama. Malaysiakini. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  36. ↑ Radzi Razak (26 October 2019). "Ibrahim Ali: Putra skipping Tanjung Piai race to prep for GE15". Malay Mail. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  37. ↑ "GTSM sends Shamsubahrin to contest in Tg Piai". Malaysian Gazette. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  38. ↑ "Shamsubahrin suffers heart attack, single mother replaces him as Tanjung Piai candidate". New Straits Times. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  39. ↑ "Against the odds, independent candidates throw hats in". The Star Online. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  40. ↑ "EC accused of making life difficult for Umno and MCA". The Star Online. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  41. ↑ "Dr Wee asks if EC set dates for Tanjung Piai by-election in favour of Pakatan". The Star Online. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  42. ↑ Ramieza Wahid & Zikri Kamarulzaman (1 October 2019). "Umno, MCA fume over polls-AGM clash, EC says unavoidable". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  43. ↑ Mazwin Nik Anis (1 October 2019). "Umno unhappy with dates for Tanjung Piai by-election". The Star Online. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  44. ↑ Fatimah Zainal (3 October 2019). "Umno postpones AGM to focus on Tanjung Piai by-election". The Star Online. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  45. ↑ "MCA AGM postponed to Nov 30 to avoid clash with Tg Piai by-election". The Star Online. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  46. ↑ "Kula links LTTE-DAP allegations to Tanjung Piai by-election". Malaysiakini. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  47. ↑ Zahratulhayat Mat Arif (12 October 2019). "Kulasegaran denies involvement with LTTE". New Straits Times. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  48. ↑ "Ibrahim Ali dakwa motif operasi isu LTTE raih undi Melayu Tg Piai" (in Malay). Free Malaysia Today. 14 October 2019. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  49. ↑ "Johor Umno chief: Bersatu candidate is 66, hope there won't be 2nd by-election". Malaysiakini. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  50. ↑ "Bersatu hits back at Umno for suggesting Tg Piai candidate may kick bucket". Malaysiakini. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  51. ↑ "PAS Announces Candidates In 11 States". Malaysia Today. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
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