2023 Kemaman by-election

2023 Kemaman by-election

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P040 Kemaman seat in the Dewan Rakyat
First party Second party   Candidate Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor Party PAS Direct Member Alliance PN BN Popular vote 64,998 27,778 Percentage 70.06% 29.94%
MP before election Che Alias Hamid (disqualified) PN (PAS) Elected MP Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar PN (PAS)

The 2023 Kemaman by-election was a by-election that was held on Saturday, 2 December 2023 for the Dewan Rakyat seat of Kemaman. It was called following the disqualification of incumbent, Che Alias Hamid on 26 September 2023.^[1]

The election was the third federal by-election since GE15 after the Kuala Terengganu and Pulai by-elections that were held earlier the year.^{[note 1]} Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar won by the majority of 37,220 votes.

Background

Kemaman is a Malay/Muslim-majority seat comprising predominantly 94.1% of the overall voters, followed by 5.0% Chinese, 0.5% Indians and 0.4% of other ethnicities.

Che Alias, a member of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) of Perikatan Nasional (PN) was first elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kemaman in Terengganu defeating Ahmad Said of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) of Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, Hasuni Sudin of the People's Justice Party (PKR) of Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and Rosli Abd Ghani of the Homeland Fighters Party (PEJUANG) of Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) coalition by a majority of 27,179 votes in 2022 general election (GE15).

On 26 September 2023, the Terengganu Election Court annulled the results of the Kemaman seat in the 2022 general election. With this, Che Alias lost his seat and was disqualified as an MP with immediate effect. Judge Anselm Charles Fernandis ruled that the petitioner of BN Wan Mohamad Hisham Wan Abdul Jalil succeeded in proving that there had been elements of inducement of voters during the campaigning period of the election and corruption had taken place with the aim of influencing voters through programmes of fund distribution by the Terengganu state government in the election. He added that although the Terengganu state government was not in caretaker capacity and was allowed to work normally as the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly was dissolved and Terengganu state election was held separately in 2023, it did not mean the programmes should be held so close to the election. The court also ordered Che Alias to pay RM 30,000 to Wan Mohamad Hisham. Che Alias was represented by lawyers Wan Rohimi Wan Daud and Saifuddin Othman while Wan Mohamad Hisham was by lawyers Mohd Hafarizam Harun, Amin Othman and Norhazira Abu Haiyan. Hafarizam stressed that the Anselm had called the lead counsel of both parties into his chambers and informed them that he would notify the Election Commission (EC) of his ruling on a week later on 3 October 2023 if there was no appeal notice, indicating a decision on whether to file a notice of appeal should be made by that day and within a week. On 3 October 2023, Secretary-General of PAS Takiyuddin Hassan announced that Che Alias and PAS had decided against filing a notice of appeal to the Federal Court. Following that, the by-election was triggered.^[2]

Nomination

On 3 October 2023, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of BN and President of UMNO Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stressed that it would be good for BN to test the electoral support for the coalition in Kemaman once again although the opposing PN has the advantage in the Malay-majority and rural areas like Kemaman and bring down the majority of PN in the by-election from its majority in the 2022 general election should it win.^[3]

On 13 November 2023, BN nominated former Chief of Defence Forces Raja Mohamed Affandi as its candidate. Affandi stands as a direct candidate, unaffiliated with any of the component parties within BN.^[4] Affandi is the first direct member to contest a by-election since Ramli Mohd Nor in the 2019 Cameron Highlands by-election although Ramli subsequently joined UMNO following his election.

On 16 November 2023, PN nominated Menteri Besar of Terengganu and Member of the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Ru Rendang Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as its candidate.^[5]

Timeline

The key dates are listed below.

Results

Malaysian general by-election, 2 December 2023: Kemaman
Upon the disqualification of the incumbent, Che Alias Hamid

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%
	PAS	Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar	64,998	70.06	11.95
	BN	Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor	27,778	29.94	4.13
Total valid votes			92,776	100.00
Total rejected ballots			478
Unreturned ballots			35
Turnout			93,289	65.76	15.36
Registered electors			141,043
Majority			37,220	40.12	16.08
	PAS hold		Swing
Source(s) https://lom.agc.gov.my/ilims/upload/portal/akta/outputp/1918066/PUB535_2023.pdf

Previous results

Notes

References

• v
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By-elections in Malaysia

Federal

1950s	Kedah Tengah 1959
1960s	Kampar 1960 Telok Anson 1961 Kuala Trengganu Selatan 1962 Lipis 1962 Muar Selatan 1963 Bachok 1964 Seberang Selatan 1964 Krian Laut 1966 Bruas 1966 Kelantan Hilir 1967 Raub 1967 Pasir Mas Hulu 1967 Segamat Utara 1968 Kuantan 1968
1970s	Malacca Selatan 1971 Kapar 1971 Bau-Lundu 1971 Lipis 1972 Ulu Selangor 1972 Rembau-Tampin 1972 Kuala Kedah 1973 Johore Timor 1973 Rajang 1974 Selayang 1975 Pekan 1976 Kemaman 1976 Kimanis 1977 Panti 1977 Keningau 1977 Pontian 1978 Pelabuhan Kelang 1979
1980s	Mukah 1980 Kimanis 1981 Paloh 1981 Sri Gading 1981 Ulu Muda 1983 Tampin 1983 Seremban 1983 Padang Terap 1985 Ulu Padas 1985 Lubok Antu 1987 Limbawang 1987 Gopeng 1987 Johor Bahru 1988 Ampang Jaya 1989 Bentong 1989
1990s	Jerai 1992 Gua Musang 1995 Bagan 1995 Lipis 1997 Telok Intan 1997 Kuala Selangor 1997 Arau 1998
2000s	Telok Kemang 2000 Pendang 2002 Gaya 2002 Permatang Pauh 2008 Kuala Terengganu 2009 Bukit Gantang 2009
2010s	Hulu Selangor 2010 Sibu 2010 Batu Sapi 2010 Bukit Gelugor 2014 Teluk Intan 2014 Rompin 2015 Permatang Pauh 2015 Kuala Kangsar 2016 Sungai Besar 2016 Port Dickson 2018 Cameron Highlands 2019 Sandakan 2019 Tanjung Piai 2019
2020s	Kimanis 2020 Padang Serai 2022 Kuala Terengganu 2023 Pulai 2023 Kemaman 2023

State

1950s	Plentong 1959
1960s	Sri Lalang 1960 Grik 1960 Kota Tengah 1960 Pontian Kechil 1961 Gemas 1962 Rantau Panjang 1962 Port Swettenham 1963 Pahang Tua 1963 Telok Datoh 1963 Balik Pulau 1963 Jelai 1964 Tumpat Tengah 1964 Jitra 1965 Ayer Itam 1965 Rahang 1965 Sungei Bahru 1966 Kampong Bharu 1967 Tampoi 1967 Chukai 1967 Baling Barat 1968 Ranau 1968 Bachok Utara 1968 Bukit Serampang 1968 Pendang 1968 Serdang 1968
1970s	Bekok 1971 Yen-Merbok 1971 Pelagus 1971 Batu Rakit 1971 Sidam 1971 Muda 1971 Tumpat Barat 1972 Sebandi 1973 Kota Bharu Tengah 1973 Elopura 1973 Johore Lama 1973 Kajang 1973 Kuala Nerus 1973 Kuching Barat 1973 Engkilili-Skrang 1974 Pasir Puteh Tengah 1974 Bandar Kangar 1974 Sungei Bahru 1974 Parit Bakar 1974 Alor Pongsu 1974 Merbok 1975 Kuala Kinabatangan 1975 Labuan 1975 Lahad Datu 1975 Lunas 1976 Semariang 1976 Kiulu 1976 Kota Kinabalu 1976 Papar 1976 Moyog 1976 Tanjong Aru 1976 Bandar Penggaram 1977 Balingian 1977 Bertam 1977 Parit Jawa 1977 Kenering 1977 Matunggong 1977 Jempol 1977 Morib 1978 Tendong 1978 Matunggong 1978 Inanam 1978 Kampong Jawa 1978 Titi Tinggi 1978 Machan 1978 Kampong Kolam 1978 Muara Tuang 1979 Kuching Timor 1979 Kuala Besut 1979 Balung 1979 Ranau 1979
1980s	Oya 1980 Bukit Raya 1980 Kemabong 1980 Sugut 1980 Pengkalan Kota 1980 Bengkoka 1981 Sebandi 1981 Matu-Daro 1981 Satok 1981 Sipitang 1981 Ulu Muar 1981 Balung 1981 Kunak 1981 Lumadan 1981 Gemencheh 1982 Tandek 1982 Usukan 1982 Kepayang 1982 Binjai 1982 Banggi 1983 Kenering 1983 Bandar Raub 1983 Tamparuli 1983 Kemumin 1983 Selising 1983 Rungkup 1983 Tambunan 1984 Bandar Maran 1986 Sukau 1986 Balung 1986 Buang Sayang 1986 Karamunting 1986 Oya 1986 Sulaman 1986 Bukit Tuku 1987 Usukan 1987 Bongawan 1987 Tanjong Puteri 1988 Parit Raja 1988 Teluk Pasu 1989 Tambatan 1989 Teruntum 1989 Sungai Besar 1989 Ranau 1989
1990s	Pantai Merdeka 1990 Kuala Linggi 1990 Kijal 1990 Sipitang 1990 Sulabayan 1990 Bayu 1991 Usukan 1991 Prai 1991 Limbongan 1991 Sungai Pinang 1991 Serkam 1991 Jerlun 1991 Bukit Payung 1992 Batu Kawah 1992 Batu Talam 1993 Kampung Raja 1993 Sementa 1994 Lundang 1994 Shahbandar Raya 1994 Sulabayan 1995 Bukit Asahan 1996 Pulai Chondong 1997 Bukit Begunan 1997 Repah 1997 Kemena 1997 Permatang 1997 Melekek 1997 Semerak 1997 Kidurong 1997 Changkat Jering 1997 Sungai Bakap 1997
2000s	Sanggang 2000 Lunas 2000 Indera Kayangan 2002 Ketari 2002 Anak Bukit 2002 Kuala Berang 2004 Ba'kelalan 2004 Pengkalan Pasir 2005 Batu Talam 2007 Machap 2007 Ijok 2007 Batang Air 2009 Bukit Selambau 2009 Penanti 2009 Manek Urai 2009 Permatang Pasir 2009 Bagan Pinang 2009
2010s	Galas 2010 Tenang 2011 Kerdau 2011 Merlimau 2011 Kuala Besut 2013 Sungai Limau 2013 Kajang 2014 Balingian 2014 Pengkalan Kubor 2014 Chempaka 2015 Tanjong Datu 2017 Sungai Kandis 2018 Balakong 2018 Seri Setia 2018 Semenyih 2019 Rantau 2019
2020s	Chini 2020 Slim 2020 Bugaya 2022 Tioman 2022 Simpang Jeram 2023 Pelangai 2023 Jepak 2023 Kuala Kubu Baharu 2024 Sungai Bakap 2024