MALAYSIA IS READY TO STAGE ITS 9 BY ELECTION

Malaysia is going to stage for the country’s ninth marathons by-election, aptly enough in Negri Sembilan, following the death of the Bagan Pinang state assemblyman Azman Mohd Noor yesterday.

• Within a span of 18 months, Malaysia will have seen a record number of nine by-elections after the 12th general election that was held in March last year.
• By-elections have been held in Penang (Permatang Pauh, Penanti, and Permatang Pasir), Terengganu (Kuala Terengganu), Kedah (Bukit Selambau) Perak (Bukit Gantang), Sarawak (Batang Ai), and Kelantan (Manek Urai).
• Of the nine-by-elections, three were called following the resignation of PKR elected representatives in Permatang Pauh, Penanti and Bukit Selambau.
• Six other by-elections were called following the deaths of three PAS elected representatives (Bukit Gantang, Manek Urai state, Permatang Pasir) and three Barisan elected representatives (Batang Ai, Kuala Terengganu and Bagan Pinang).
• Following the eight by-elections held so far, Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat maintained status quo except in Kuala Terengganu where Barisan lost the parliament seat to PAS.
• The governing Barisan will go all out to defend the Bagan Pinang state seat to boost its morale following successive defeats in recent by-elections.
• In Putrajaya, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusoff, who has overseen seven by-elections since becoming Election Commission (EC) chairman nine months ago, said he would take the challenge in stride, and values the hands-on experience.
• Abdul Aziz said the EC would have to wait for the Negri Sembilan state legislative assembly speaker to notify the commission.

Source: mStar