Kuala Terengganu by-election, 2009

The Kuala Terengganu by-election of 2009 was held on 7 January 2009 after the death of the incumbent Member of Parliament, Razali Ismail.[1] In the 2008 election, Datuk Razali won by a slim 628 vote majority, defeating Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) heavyweight Mohamad Sabu and 89-year-old independent candidate, Maimun Yusuf.[2] Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Barisan Nasional were confident that Barisan Nasional would retain the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat. The Prime Minister had rejected the assumption that there would be a big swing by the voters to the Opposition.[3] Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim stated that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the Democratic Action Party (DAP) would support any candidate that PAS picked. He was optimistic that Pakatan Rakyat would win in Kuala Terengganu if all its coalition parties worked hard against Barisan Nasional.[4] In the 2008 election Razali, a government minister of the UMNO party, defeated a PAS opposition candidate by 628 votes.[5] For the by-election PAS nominated state assemblyman Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut, while Barisan Nasional nominated Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh. Mohd Abdul won the by-election by 2,631 votes.

By-election results

Dewan Rakyat: Kuala Terengganu by-election, 2009
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Pakatan Rakyat Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut 32,883 51.38 Increase3.16
Barisan Nasional Wan Ahmad Wan Farid Wan Salleh 30,252 47.27 Decrease1.89
Independent Azharudin Mamat 193 0.30 Decrease0.73
Majority 2,631 4.11 Increase3.17
Turnout 63,993 79.76 Decrease2.69
Pakatan Rakyat gain from Barisan Nasional Swing Increase2.53

References

  1. "Kuala Terengganu By-election On Jan 17". Bernama. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  2. "PAS Candidate To Contest In K. Terengganu By-Election". Bernama. 9 December 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  3. "Abdullah confident of BN's victory in Kuala Terengganu by-election". NST. 9 December 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  4. "Not the time to point fingers, says Anwar". AsiaOne. 10 December 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2008.
  5. "PAS Candidate To Contest In K. Terengganu By-Election". Bernama. 9 December 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2008.