2019 Rantau by-election explained

Election Name:2019 Rantau by-election
Country:Negeri Sembilan
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2018 Negeri Sembilan state election
Previous Year:2018
Next Election:2023 Negeri Sembilan state election
Next Year:2023
Seats For Election:N27 Rantau seat in the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly
Election Date:13 April 2019
Image1: BN
Image1 Size:100px
Candidate1:Mohamad Hasan
Party1:UMNO
Alliance1:BN
Color1:000080
Popular Vote1:10,397
Percentage1:63.22%
Candidate2:Streram Sinnasamy
Party2:PKR
Alliance2:PH
Color2:ED1C24
Popular Vote2:5,887
Percentage2:35.80%
Image4: IND
Candidate4:Malar Rajaram
Party4:Independent (politician)
Popular Vote4:83
Percentage4:0.50%
Image5: IND
Candidate5:Mohd Nor Yasin
Party5:Independent (politician)
Popular Vote5:79
Percentage5:0.48%
MLA
Before Election:Mohamad Hasan (nullified)
Before Party:Barisan Nasional (UMNO)
After Election:Mohamad Hasan
After Party:Barisan Nasional (UMNO)

A by-election was held on 13 April 2019 for the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly seat of Rantau.[1] The seat became vacant after the uncontested election of incumbent Mohamad Hasan of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component of Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition was declared null and void.[2] [3]

In the 2018 elections, Mohamad Hasan, the 3-term former Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan won the seat uncontested after People's Justice Party (PKR)’s candidate Dr Streram Sinnansamy was not allowed to enter the Nomination Centre to file his papers.[4] However, the Election Court has on the 16 November 2018, allowed the petition by Dr S. Streram and passed a ruling that Mohamad Hasan had not been duly elected.[5] A fresh election was called to be held after Mohamad Hasan's appeal was dismissed by the Federal Court on 18 February 2019.[2] The nomination day was on 30 March, with a about 2-week campaigning period until election day. The constituency has 20,926 registered voters- 20,804 ordinary voters, 118 early voters and four absentee voters.[6] [7]

Barisan Nasional's Mohamad Hasan won the by-election with a 4,510 majority and retained the seat again.[8] It was the third consecutive by-election victory for the BN coalition. The other two being the Cameron Highlands and Semenyih by-elections.

Nominations

The UMNO acting president Mohamad Hasan declared he is ready to defend the Rantau seat again,[9] after the Federal Court upheld an Election Court's ruling to nullify the result of him winning the seat unopposed in the last general election.[10]

Meanwhile, Dr S. Streram, an anaesthetist who is the Rembau PKR deputy chief, said he would leave the candidacy to the party leadership and vowed not to contest as an independent if he was not selected as candidate for the Rantau by-election.[11] On 11 March 2019, he was chosen as the PH candidate for the by-election.[12]

PKR member and businessman, Hazan Khalid initially decided on 27 March 2019 that he would contest as an independent candidate after he disagreed with the candidacy of Dr S. Streram, as the PH candidate.[13] However he didn't turn up to file his papers on Nomination Day.

On Nomination Day, alongside Mohamad Hasan and Dr S. Streram, two independents, retired teacher Mohd Nor Yasin (pen logo) and housewife Malar Rajaram (tree logo) submitted their papers. The EC confirmed a four-cornered fight for the by-election.[14]

Controversies and issues

Dr S. Streram was alleged to borrowed and failed to repay Segamat Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Dr R. Santhara Kumar a debt of RM60,000 for his child's education which he claimed that he had repaid the debt in full.[15] PH chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that Dr S. Streram was selected as candidate as he is not a bankrupt and PH is upholding its principles as Dr S. Streram was denied from a fair contest in the 14th general election.[16]

Mohamad Hasan told the public to look into his past contributions before calling him a racist. Mohamad's past speeches which purportedly touch on vernacular schools and remarks describing non-Malays were which alleged to be racists and has sparked outrage among the public.[17]

Independent candidate, Mohd Nor Yassin had been confirmed to be a member of National Trust Party (AMANAH). The party planned to expel him from the party for contesting as an independent and not supporting the PH Candidate.[18] Mohd Nor Yassin was also the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) candidate for the state constituency of Gemencheh during the 2013 general election. He was expelled from AMANAH on the same day.[19]

Former Malacca Chief Minister, Idris Haron promised in a campaign speech that if BN won the by-election, they will provide two goats for a feast. EC Chairman, Azhar Harun, has confirmed that it's an election offense.[20]

A provocation banner displaying sensitive and racism messages has been hung up in the Rantau area. Mohamad Hasan, the BN candidate has denied claims of BN hanging the banner.[21] Streram meanwhile lodged a police report on the matter.[22]

A case involving an RM10 million being remitted and transferred through a money changer by Mohamad to buy a luxury apartment in London has been brought up by the Speaker of the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly.[23] Mohamad however has denied claims of any wrongdoing by him.[24] Mohamad was asked to explain the reason he used a money changer instead of a bank to transfer RM10 million and also his connection on a RM6 million Minangkabau design bungalow in Seremban.[25]

A video emerged of five individuals in clothing bearing PH logos searching a police car on polling day as they suspected extra ballot boxes were being ferried in the vehicle, but their search only turned up to be false alarm.[26]

Meanwhile, arguments and physical fights among the PKR machinery members had erupted at the PH's Rantau command centre following unofficial reports of its candidate Dr S. Streram's defeat in the Rantau by-election. The incident was said to be happened because of misunderstanding and disagreement over the machinery payment.[27]

Results

Results according to polling districts

Voting District Code Voting District Party
131/27/01 Kampong Sendayan BN
131/27/02 Sendayan BN
131/27/03 Taman Kelab Tuanku BN
131/27/04 Kampung Mambau BN
131/27/05 Kampung Bemban BN
131/27/06 Kuala Sawah BN
131/27/07 Kampong Sri Lalang BN
131/27/08 Kampong Sega BN
131/27/09 Pekan Sagga BN
131/27/10 Rantau BN
131/27/11 Linsum BN
131/27/12 Kampung Siliau BN
131/27/13 Angsa Emas BN
131/27/14 Bandar Ekar PH

Early and post votes

Voting District Party
Post VoteBN
Early Vote BN

Notes and References

  1. News: Rantau by-election set for April 13. The Star Online. Mazwin Nik Anis . 6 March 2019. 6 March 2019.
  2. News: Mohamad Hasan's appeal dismissed; Rantau by-election to go on. The Star Online. 18 February 2019. 18 February 2019.
  3. Web site: Court orders fresh election for Rantau seat. V Anbalagan. 16 November 2018. Free Malaysia Today. 18 February 2019. 30 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190330110348/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/11/16/court-orders-fresh-election-for-rantau-seat/. dead.
  4. Web site: Mohamad Hasan returned unopposed. 2018-04-19. . thestar.com.my. 2019-02-18.
  5. News: Rantau by-election on after court invalidates BN win - Nation. 16 November 2018. The Star Online. www.thestar.com.my. 18 February 2019.
  6. News: 【晏斗補選】印裔票及游離票左右選情. 東方日報. zh-my. 2019-04-08.
  7. News: Nomination process for Rantau by-election begins. The Sun Daily. Bernama. 30 March 2019. 30 March 2019.
  8. News: Tok Mat wins Rantau by-election with a 4,510 vote majority. 13 April 2019. The Star Online. 13 April 2019.
  9. News: Tok Mat: I've long been ready for Rantau by-election . The Malay Mail. Zurairi AR. 18 February 2019. 18 February 2019.
  10. News: Rantau by-election: UMNO number two to defend state seat. The Third Force. Raggie Jessy Rithaudeen . 18 February 2019. 18 February 2019.
  11. News: Rantau by-election: Dr Streram vows not to contest as independent if not selected. . Bernama . 21 February 2019. 21 February 2019.
  12. News: PKR's Streram to get another shot at Rantau. Malaysiakini. 11 March 2019. 11 March 2019.
  13. News: Disappointed with Harapan's pick, businessman to join race for Rantau. Malaysiakini. 27 March 2019. 27 March 2019.
  14. News: Confirmed! Four-cornered fight in Rantau by-election. Malaysiakini. 30 March 2019. 30 March 2019.
  15. News: Accused to have failed to repay debt, Streram to refer to PKR leadership. The Malay Mail. Bernama. 10 March 2019. 13 March 2019.
  16. News: Dr M: Despite debt dispute, Streram eligible to contest Rantau seat. New Straits Times. Syed Umar Ariff . 12 March 2019. 13 March 2019.
  17. News: Look at my track record before calling me a racist - Mat Hasan. Malaysiakini. 25 March 2019. 25 March 2019.
  18. News: Amanah wants to expel Rantau indie candidate from party. The Star Online. 30 March 2019. 30 March 2019.
  19. News: Amanah sacks Rantau indie from party. Malay Mail. 30 March 2019. 31 March 2019.
  20. News: Idris' 'goat feast' promise treated as an offence. The Star Online. 3 April 2019. 3 April 2019.
  21. News: 'Don't vote Keling' banner in Rantau - Mat Hasan denies it's BN. Malaysiakini. Zikri Kamarulzaman. 6 April 2019. 6 April 2019.
  22. News: Rantau: 'Racist' banners cause stir; Streram to lodge police report. New Straits Times. Adrian Lai. 6 April 2019. 7 April 2019.
  23. News: Rafizi questions Tok Mat's RM10 mil transfer to buy London property. Bernama. Free Malaysia Today. 11 April 2019. 12 April 2019. 11 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190411201421/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2019/04/11/rafizi-questions-tok-mats-rm10-mil-transfer-to-buy-london-property/. dead.
  24. News: Mat Hasan denies wrongdoing in RM10m transfer. Malaysiakini. Zikri Kamarulzaman . 7 April 2019. 9 April 2019.
  25. News: Calls to probe Mohamad. The Star Online. Sarban Singh, Fatimah Zainal and Yimie Yong. 10 April 2019. 13 April 2019.
  26. News: PKR to discipline members involved in brawl, search on police car. Malaysiakini. 14 April 2019. 14 April 2019.
  27. News: Heated words, punches thrown in Pakatan's Rantau command centre . The Star Online. Fatimah Zainal. 13 April 2019. 13 April 2019.