2010 Hulu Selangor by-election

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2010 Hulu Selangor by-election
Flag of Malaysia.svg
  2008 25 April 2010 2013  

Hulu Selangor seat in the Dewan Rakyat
  14-01-27-landtag-brandenburg-RalfR-085.jpg
PKR
Candidate P. Kamalanathan Zaid Ibrahim
Party BN (MIC) PKR
Alliance PR
Popular vote24,99723,272
Percentage51.79%48.21%

Hulu Selangor MP before election

Zainal Abidin Ahmad
PKR

Elected Hulu Selangor MP

P. Kamalanathan
BN (MIC)

The 2010 Hulu Selangor by-election is a by-election for the Dewan Rakyat federal seat of Hulu Selangor , Malaysia that were held on 25 April 2010. [1] It was called following the death of the incumbent, Zainal Abidin Ahmad on 25 March 2010.

Contents

Background

Zainal Abidin Ahmad, a candidate of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) were first elected to the federal seat of Hulu Selangor at the 2008 Malaysian general election, defeating 3-term incumbent from Barisan Nasional (BN), G. Palanivel. [2] A former United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) member before joining PKR in 2005, Zainal Abidin were the assemblyman for Dusun Tua in the Selangor State Legislative Assembly for 3-terms from 1990 to 2004, and were the Deputy Menteri Besar of Selangor from 1999 to 2004. [2]

On 25 March 2010, Zainal Abidin passed away at his house in Kajang, because of brain cancer. [2] His death means that his Hulu Selangor federal seat were vacated. This necessitates for a by-election to be held, as the seat were vacated more that 2 years before the expiry of the Dewan Rakyat current term. Election Commission of Malaysia (SPR) announced that the by-election will be held on 25 April 2010, with 17 April 2010 set as the nomination day.

Nomination and campaign

As the seat was formerly won by BN's component party Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) since 1986, usually the candidate would come from MIC. After the news of Zainal's death, Palanivel, the former incumbent for the seat and MIC deputy president were being announced by MIC president Samy Vellu as their candidate. [3] However, after several discussions involving MIC and UMNO, including naming MIC Youth vice-chief V. Mugilan, BN nominated P. Kamalanathan, MIC information chief and public relations director for Serba Wangi Sdn Bhd as their candidate. [4] PKR meanwhile nominated Zaid Ibrahim, a former UMNO member and member of Parliament for Kota Bharu from 2004 to 2008. [5] A lawyer that formerly owned his own law firm Zaid Ibrahim & Co, Zaid were also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department from March 2008 before resigning only 3 months later and sacked from UMNO. He joined PKR in 2009.

After nomination closed, it was confirmed there will be a straight fight between BN and PKR for the Hulu Selangor seat. [6] There were 2 independent candidate nominations that were accepted by SPR on nomination day, [7] but the candidates withdrew before the nomination deadline, 2 days later. [6]

Timeline

The key dates are listed below.

DateEvent
Issue of the Writ of Election
17 April 2010Nomination Day
17 - 24 April 2010Campaigning Period
Early polling day for postal and overseas voters
25 April 2010Polling Day

Results

Malaysian general by-election, 25 April 2010: Hulu Selangor
Upon the death of incumbent, Zainal Abidin Ahmad
PartyCandidateVotes% ∆%
BN P. Kamalanathan 24,99751.79Increase2.svg 2.00
PKR Mohd Zaid Ibrahim 23,27248.21Decrease2.svg 2.00
Total valid votes48,269 100.00
Total rejected ballots731
Unreturned ballots67
Turnout49,06776.07Increase2.svg 0.83
Registered electors64,500
Majority1,7253.58Increase2.svg 3.16
BN gain from PKR Swing ?
Source(s)
"Pilihan Raya Kecil P.094 Hulu Selangor". Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2018-09-19.

Previous result

Malaysian general election, 2008 : Hulu Selangor
PartyCandidateVotes% ∆%
PKR Zainal Abidin Ahmad 23,17750.21Increase2.svg 50.21
BN G. Palanivel 22,97949.79Decrease2.svg 17.82
Total valid votes46,156 100.00
Total rejected ballots1,466
Unreturned ballots223
Turnout47,84575.24Increase2.svg 2.47
Registered electors63,593
Majority1980.42Decrease2.svg 34.80
PKR gain from BN Swing ?

Aftermath

Notes

    References

    1. "Kamalanathan takes Hulu S'gor with 1,725-vote majority". The Edge Malaysia. 25 April 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
    2. 1 2 3 "MP Hulu Selangor meninggal dunia". Malaysiakini (in Malay). 25 March 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
    3. Pragalath, K. (26 March 2010). "Sah: MIC akan calonkan Palanivel". Malaysiakini (in Malay).
    4. "#Update* BN names compromise choice for Hulu Selangor contest". The Edge Malaysia. 15 April 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
    5. "Zaid Ibrahim Calon PKR Di Hulu Selangor - Semasa | mStar". www.mstar.com.my (in Malay). 14 April 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
    6. 1 2 "It's PKR vs BN for Hulu Selangor". The Edge Malaysia. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
    7. "Two former BN men stand as independents in Hulu Selangor". The Edge Malaysia. 17 April 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2025.