Deposits In Selangor State Election
Their failure to win their respective seats underscores the importance of a candidate’s platform and policies over their physical appearance.
The “most beautiful” or “most handsome” candidates may capture attention and generate buzz, but ultimately, their platform and policies will determine their success.
Two such candidates lost their deposits of RM5,000 in a recent state election in Malaysia.
Abe Lim, who represented the Malaysian Democratic Alliance Front (MUDA) and was known as the “most beautiful” candidate, failed to win the Bandar Utama state assembly seat, receiving only 2,496 votes.
The official results published on the Election Commission (EC) website showed that Jamaliah Jamaluddin, a candidate from the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, won the Bandar Utama state assembly seat with 39,845 votes.
Meanwhile, Nur Aliff Mohd Taufid Ali, a candidate from the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, received 4,399 votes.
Similarly, Ang Wei Yang, an independent candidate known as the “most handsome” candidate for the Banting state seat, also suffered the same fate.
The bioengineering graduate from Sheffield University lost his deposit after receiving only 1,439 votes.
The seat was won by Pakatan Harapan’s V. Paparaidu, who became the constituency’s first-ever non-Chinese assemblyman.
96 candidates lost their deposits in the recent state elections in Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
In the 2018 general election, 275 candidates lost their deposits at parliamentary and state constituencies.
Candidates considered underdogs or unlikely to win are often seen as having won a moral victory if they lose without losing their deposit.
This can be seen as a stepping stone for future elections and a sign that they have the potential to build a strong base of support.
Money matters
Candidates who contest in state elections are required to pay a deposit of RM5,000.
This deposit is refundable if the candidate secures at least one-eighth of the votes they are contesting in the constituency.
However, if the candidate fails to meet this threshold, their deposit is forfeited.
The deposit system is in place to ensure that only serious candidates contest in elections and to prevent frivolous or insincere candidates from running.
It is also meant to deter candidates from making false promises or engaging in unethical campaign practices. - TRP 13 August 2023
‘Get rid of them’, netizens react to Muda
Twitter users vent anger at the party for its perceived splitting of the vote and allowing PN to gain a foothold in state assemblies.
FMT 13 August, PETALING JAYA: Netizens took to social media to vent their anger over Muda’s purported role in splitting the vote in yesterday’s state elections.
@bumilangit was more direct: “Just get rid of Muda already. Arrogant, ignorant, and splitting the votes, causing PN to win.”
Twitter user @hermyrahim blamed Muda for Pakatan Harapan’s Ustaz Zawawi Mughni losing the Sungai Kandis seat to Perikatan Nasional’s Wan Dzahanurin Ahmad.
Muda candidate Afriena Shaqira took 1,341 votes, but Wan Dzahanurin’s victory was by a mere 167 ballots.
“Sungai Kandis lost by 167 votes, if Muda didn’t contest, we would have won,” he said.
Another Twitter user @faIqfahmie sarcastically congratulated Muda for its perceived role in splitting the votes.
“Congratulations, Muda, for splitting the votes. That’s your only function,” he said.
Twitter user @Chairman_GLC appeared to have lost his patience with the party.
“I have been lenient with Muda all this while. No more,” he said.
Last night, Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said the party took full responsibility for the defeat of its candidates, who all lost their deposits.
Seat clashes between PH and Muda are not new, with a PKR and a Muda candidate clashing in the Johor state election in 2022.
PKR, a core party in PH, had criticised Muda over its decision to stand in Larkin.
In June, Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman dismissed the notion that the party would hurt the PH-BN alliance’s chances of winning.
Muda’s decision to go solo for the Aug 12 state election saw the party challenge the PH-BN alliance in several seats.
Time for Gerakan to quit PN – and self-dissolve – after humiliating Penang state poll defeat
THE six states election had just ended yesterday (Aug 12). Penang once again will be governed by DAP and its allies. But poor Gerakan – once a mighty political party well-loved by Penangites – was totally wiped out in all its 19 contested seats across the Penang island and mainland.
The party also suffered total defeat in Negri Sembilan with the exception of a consolation seat won in Kedah (the Kulim state constituency).
It goes to show that the party is no longer relevant in today’s political landscape. Gerakan used to be highly respected and at its height under the late Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu’s leadership.
With his far-sightedness vision, Dr Lim has transformed Penang into an industrialised state and for it to deserve the “Pearl of the Orient” title.
But when its successor, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon took over, disaster was felt. A red alert that Gerakan was at the end of its era.
True enough, Koh was despised by Penangites. He was given all kinds of nicknames, much to the chagrin of his supporters. He couldn’t live up to the expectations of Penangites and only lived in the shadow of Chong Eu.
And in 2008, history was made. DAP finally trounced Gerakan and since then, the support to DAP by Penangites has never ceased.
No matter what Gerakan did to revive itself – from bringing in younger leaders, re-branding its image to creating social awareness and activities – Gerakan has still failed to regain its footing in the state.
With the humiliating defeat of its president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai and the party in yesterday’s (Aug 12) six state polls, Gerakan is now like a toothless tiger – or more like a cub.
The party has done some soul searching over the years and yet still being unable to find a winning formula to secure a place in the heart of Penangites.
So, what’s next? Perhaps, Gerakan should consider winding up for good. A new logo, a new name and a new leader won’t help because we are now in 2023 – not 1983.
In short, Gerakan is past tense. – Aug 13, 2023
Francis Yip is an award-winning writer and HRDF (Human Resource Development Fund)-accredited trainer. He is also the CEO of Franciswriter Dot Com and guest lecturer at The One Academy.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
