May 31, 2009
PEOPLE’S ALLIANCE RETAINS PENANTI (PENANG) IN BY-ELECTION
May 31, 8:30 pm: Mansor Othman of the People’s Justice Party has won the Penanti (Penang) by-election in Malaysia by 5,558 votes. He garnered 6,052 out of the 7,100 votes cast. The People’s Justice Party is part of the opposition People’s Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat).
The state by-election was held when Penang Deputy Chief Minister and state assembleyman Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin quit the seat over allegations of corruption and non-performance in public office. Since then, Mohammad Fairus, from the People’s Justice Party, has been cleared of the alleged corruption links with quarry operations in the state by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
The Penanti by-election got into the headlines especially when the ruling National Front (Barisan Nasional) decided not to contest the seat. The general feeling was that Penanti was an opposition stronghold and taking part in the by-election might mean another loss for the new regime of Prime Minister Najib Razak. On April 7, the opposition won the Bukit Gantang (Perak) by-election by a majority of 2,789 votes and the Bukit Selambau (Kedah) seat by a majority of 2,403 votes.
The other contestants in the Penanti by-election were former Penang People’s Justice Party’s women chief, Aminah Abdullah; Nai-Khan Ari; and Kamarul Ramizu Idris - all three stood as independents.
Note: Visit Malaysia Today for more updates.