The 2020 Kimanis by-election is a by-election held on 18 January 2020 for the Dewan Rakyat seat of Kimanis.[1] The seat was declared vacant after the Federal Court on 2 December 2019 upheld the Election Court's ruling earlier on 16 August, nullifying the sitting Member of Parliament (MP), Anifah Aman's victory in the 2018 general election (GE14).[2] Anifah was the former Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2009 to 2018 and formerly a member of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) part of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition until he left to become independent, despite the fact that he had been a 4-term MP for Kimanis since 2004 and had just retained the seat under BN in the 2018 election a few months prior.
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The Election Commission (EC) had set the nomination day on 4 January, early voting on 14 January and polling day for 18 January 2020 with a 14-day campaign period.[1] The electoral roll in the parliamentary constituency to be used would be the one up to the third quarter of 2019 which was last updated on 9 December 2019 with a total of 29,664 voters made up of 52,698 ordinary voters, 9 early voters while 1 absentee voters (who are abroad).[3] Kimanis which consists of the Bongawan and Membakut state seats, has about 68% Muslim-bumiputras voters of mainly Bruneian Malay, Bisaya and Bajau communities, some 25% non-Muslim bumiputras voters of mainly ethnic Kadazan-Dusun and Murut, while the remaining 7% were Chinese and others.[4]
Nomination
editOn 11 December 2019, Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) Chairman and Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew said that PH will pave way and support ally, Sabah Heritage Party (WARISAN) to field its candidate.[5] Previously, the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) had offered to contest the by-election but decided to support the WARISAN candidate instead.[6] Karim Bujang, the WARISAN candidate for Kimanis in GE14 who had lost and filed the election petition, was once again nominated as WARISAN's candidate for the by-election.[7]
Sabah UMNO chief, Bung Mokhtar Radin confirmed that BN will contest the by-election by fielding a candidate from UMNO.[8] BN decided to field UMNO Kimanis division chief and former Bongawan assemblyman, Mohamad Alamin as their candidate for the by-election.[9]
The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) has announced its support for the BN candidate in the by-election. PAS secretary-general, Takiyuddin Hassan, said that the party will mobilise its election campaign machinery to support the BN candidate.[10]
Anifah Aman, the incumbent prior to the disqualification, denied that he will contest the seat again. Anifah also said that he will return in the coming 15th General Election instead.[11] Anifah has since declared his support for the BN candidate in the by-election.[12]
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR), United Sabah National Organisation (USNO Baru), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and the Sabah United Party (PBS) have declined to contest the by-election, paving the way for a possible straight fight between BN and Warisan.[13][14][15]
On Nomination Day, BN's Mohamad Alamin and WARISAN's Karim Bujang filed their nomination papers, setting the stage for a two-cornered fight for the parliamentary seat.[16]
Controversies and issues
editThe main issues in the by-election are not national matters but local issues such as the Sabah Temporary Pass or Pas Sementara Sabah (PSS) for Filipino refugees immigrants, bread-and-butter and job opportunities issues.[17][18]
Election results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BN | Mohamad Alamin | 12,706 | 54.34% | 6.60 | ||
| Sabah Heritage Party | Karim Bujang | 10,677 | 45.66% | -1.43 | ||
| Total valid votes | 23,383 | 98.65% | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 320 | |||||
| Turnout | 23,703 | 79.92 | ||||
| Registered electors | 29,664 | |||||
| Majority | 2,029 | 8.68 | ||||
| BN hold | Swing | 8.06 | ||||
Results according to polling districts
edit| State Constituency | Polling District | Polling District Code | Polling Station | Electors （2016） |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bongawan（N23） | Batu Enam | 176/23/01 | SK Our Lady | 2,098 |
| Kabang | 176/23/02 | SK Kayau | 1,338 | |
| Gadong | 176/23/03 | SK Belatik | 777 | |
| Bongawan | 176/23/04 | SK Nyaris-Nyaris | 1,924 | |
| Kimanis Madahan | 176/23/05 | SK Madahan | 1,030 | |
| Kimanis Estate | 176/23/06 | SK Kimanis | 2,098 | |
| Simpangan | 176/23/07 | SJK (C) Cheng Ming | 1,188 | |
| Kuala Pus | 176/23/08 | SK Sumbiling | 828 | |
| Bongawan Estate | 176/23/09 | SK Viging Ulu | 568 | |
| Seladan | 176/23/10 | SMK Bongawan | 3,108 | |
| Membakut（N24） | Binsulok | 176/24/01 | SK Binsulok | 1,221 |
| Pimping | 176/24/02 | SK Pingiran Jaya Pimping | 2,764 | |
| Brunei | 176/24/03 | SK Kg. Brunei | 1,611 | |
| Bandau | 176/24/04 | SK Bandau | 1,860 | |
| Membakut | 176/24/05 | SMK Membakut | 1,188 | |
| Lumat | 176/24/06 | SK Lumat | 845 | |
| Mawao | 176/24/07 | SMK St. Patrick | 1,528 | |
| Sinuka | 176/24/08 | SK Sinoko | 587 | |
| Dindong | 176/24/09 | SK Kg. Bambangan | 380 | |
| Post & Early Votes | Undi Pos | 35 | ||
| Undi Awal | 9 |
Previous result
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BN | Anifah Aman @ Haniff Amman | 11,942 | 47.71 | - 12.95 | ||
| Sabah Heritage Party | Karim Bujang | 11,786 | 47.09 | 47.09 | ||
| Sabah People's Hope Party | Jaafar Ismail | 1,300 | 5.19 | 5.19 | ||
| Total valid votes | 25,028 | 100.00 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 385 | |||||
| Unreturned ballots | 106 | |||||
| Turnout | 25,519 | 86.16 | ||||
| Registered electors | 29,618 | |||||
| Majority | 156 | 0.62 | ||||
| BN hold | Swing | |||||
Source(s) "His Majesty's Government Gazette - Notice of Contested Election, Parliament for the State of Sabah [P.U. (B) 246/2018]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-01.[permanent dead link] "Federal Government Gazette - Results of Contested Election and Statements of the Poll after the Official Addition of Votes, Parliamentary Constituencies for the State of Sabah [P.U. (B) 320/2018]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 28 May 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 2018-08-01. | ||||||
Aftermath
editAfter the Sheraton Move, Mohamad was appointed as Deputy Minister of Education II in the Ismail Sabri Yaakob cabinet. He eventually successfully retained his parliamentary seat in the 2022 general election.
References
edit- ^ a b "Kimanis by-election on Jan 18". Free Malaysia Today. 16 December 2019. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ JOSEPH KAOS Jr (16 December 2019). "Kimanis by-election set for January 18". The Star Online. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Kimanis parliamentary by-election on Jan 18". Bernama. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ^ MUGUNTAN VANAR and JOSEPH KAOS Jr (17 December 2019). "Will Anifah bid for Kimanis?". The Star Online. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ^ "Warisan to contest in Kimanis by-election after all". Free Malaysia Today. 11 December 2019. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Sabah Bersatu offers to contest in Kimanis by-election". Malay Mail. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ Kristy Inus (2 January 2020). "Kimanis by-election: Warisan's Karim Bujang gets second chance to contest for seat". The Star Online. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "Sabah Umno confirms taking part in Kimanis by-election". Free Malaysia Today. 14 December 2019. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ Jason Santos (1 January 2020). "Umno to field former Bongawan rep Alamin in Kimanis polls". Free Malaysia Today. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ "PAS backs Umno in Kimanis, will help with campaign". Malaysiakini. 23 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Anifah confirms won't contest Kimanis by-election but to return in GE15". Malay Mail. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
- ^ Muguntan Vanar (29 December 2019). "Anifah backs Barisan in Kimanis, stresses immigrant issue". The Star Online. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ Jason Santos (23 December 2019). "Warisan, Umno straight fight in Kimanis on the cards". Free Malaysia Today. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ Kow Gah Chie (27 December 2019). "Sabah BN, PBS unofficially discuss Kimanis cooperation". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ Kow Gah Chie (3 January 2020). "PBS opts out of Kimanis race in order not to split votes". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- ^ "Straight fight between BN, Warisan in Kimanis". Free Malaysia Today. 4 January 2020. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- ^ "Final dash to the Kimanis finish line". The Star Online. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- ^ Hakim Hassan (17 January 2020). "Pas Sementara Sabah: Why Is This An Issue?". The Rakyat Post. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
