1980 Pengkalan Kota by-election

1980 Pengkalan Kota by-election

←  1978 15 November 1980 1982  →
Pengkalan Kota seat in Penang State Legislative Assembly
First party Second party Third party   BN DAP Candidate Lim Kean Siew Teoh Teik Huat Lim Ewe Chin Party MCA DAP Independent Alliance BN Popular vote 6,839 6,285 NA Percentage NA NA% NA%   Fourth party   Candidate Tan Kee Chey Party Independent Popular vote NA Percentage NA%
MLA before election C Y Choy Independent Elected MLA Lim Kean Siew BN (MCA)

The Pengkalan Kota by-election was a state assembly by-election that was held on 15 November 1980 in the state of Penang, Malaysia. The Pengkalan kota seat fell vacant following the death of its Independent MLA Mr. C Y Choy. ^[1] Choy won the seat in 1978 Malaysian general election.

Lim Kean Siew of Barisan Nasional, won the by election, defeating Teoh Teik Huat of Democratic Action Party and 2 independent politician, Lim Ewe Chin and Tan Khee Chey with a majority of 554 votes. ^[2] 85 percent of the voters are non-Malay and poor demographic. ^[3]

Nomination

Prior the nomination, at least 6 independent candidate express their intention to run. Social Democratic Party (Malaysia) also intend to nominate its Secretary General, Yeap Ghim Guan. ^[4]

On nomination day, Barisan Nasional nominated Penang MCA chairman, Lim Kean Siew. ^{[5] [6]} Democratic Action Party nominated native-born ^[7] Teoh Teik Huat instead of Goh Lim Earn. ^[8] Assistant manager, Lim Eew Chin and businessman, Tan Kee Chey completed the nomination as Independent politician. ^{[9] [10]}

Results

Malaysian general by-election, 15 November 1980: Pengkalan Kota
Upon the death of incumbent, Mr. C Y Choy

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%
	BN	Lim Kean Siew	6,839	NA
	DAP	Teoh Teik Huat	6,285	NA
	Independent	Lim Ewe Chin	NA	NA
	Independent	Tan Kee Chey	NA	NA
Total valid votes			NA	100.00
Total rejected ballots			NA
Unreturned ballots			0
Turnout			NA	NA
Registered electors			NA
Majority			554	NA	NA
	BN gain		Swing

Legacy

The outcome of the election is hugely impactful to Democratic Action Party. The outcome lead to resignation of its Secretary General, Lim Kit Siang. ^[11]

The defeated DAP candidate Teoh Teik Huat filed an election petition claiming that a campaign speech by finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was an offence under the Election Offences Act 1954. The court action was defeated. ^[12]

References

1. Asian Almanac (19 ed.). 1981. p. 10600.
2. Mei Sui, Cheong (25 April 1982). "Why The Barisan got the best mandate ever" (PDF). New Straits Times . Retrieved 13 February 2025.
3. Sandhu, K S; Mani, A. (2006) [1980]. Indian Communities in Southeast Asia (First Reprint ed.). Singapore: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. p. 260. ISBN   978-981-230-418-6.
4. "Hawker to Fight for Choy's Seat" (PDF). The Star (Malaysia) . 21 October 1980. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
5. "DAP gamble that failed" (PDF). The Star . 2 February 1981. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
6. Suryadinata, Leo (2012). Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Dictionary. Singapore: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. p. 628. ISBN   978-981-4345-21-7.
7. Kit Siang, Lim (30 October 1980). "Call on the voters of Pengkalan Kota to vote the DAP candidate" . Retrieved 13 February 2025.
8. Kai Hui, Wong (22 January 2021). "'Chinese chauvinist faction in DAP' - veteran weighs in". Malaysiakini . Retrieved 13 February 2025.
9. "All Set-Four Men to Fight for Choy's Seat" (PDF). The Star . 31 October 1980. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
10. "Four-cornered fight for Kota by-election". New Straits Times . 31 October 1980. p. 1. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
11. Kit Siang, Lim (28 November 1980). Resignation as Party Secretary-General (Speech). Speech to DAP Youth. DAP Headquarters. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
12. "Prominent Penang lawyer Kean Siew dies at 85 - the Malaysian Bar".