election election election seat parliament malaysia based seat fell vacant death incumbent member liver cancer april seat defended coalition government state contested poll opposition coalition won election votes seat time election registered voters majority ethnic chinese previous general election incumbent retained seat vote majority seat won won continuously election known battle mighty government opposition went head head number local issues concerning including poverty education development background history constituency dominated contest approximately decades won seat general election defeated votes causing held parliamentary seat lost seat election election won seat held seat death liver cancer april winning margin election votes despite dominance federal seat shocked state election seats town fell loss saw defeat president deputy chief minister defeat spelled end political career election subsequently lost seat state election regained time election seat registered voters ethnic chinese rest population indigenous christians cent electorate rest include muslims religions seat largely urban nomination candidates election triggered death incumbent member parliament april subsequently set election candidate nominations occur days branch recommended contest election governing coalition second cousin son chairman companies april opposition decided candidate contest election opposition leader adviser scheduled visit april day formed opposition coalition composed members national coalition local deputy prime minister malaysia visited april expressing confidence voters leaning supporting candidate confirmed days death delayed announcing candidate april alleged delay split insisted delay calculated political strategy april announced state chairman candidate earlier indicated reluctance stand election suggesting party consider opportunity field younger candidate joined independent candidate businessman member army candidate seat election campaign dismissed admitted potential split votes hurt chances election campaign issues election widely known battle mighty seen test popularity opposition governing including land rights poverty native displacement unemployment main issues election ban use word christian publications police banned political parties issue campaigning election deemed sensitive issue officer threatened prosecute offenders ban act initially release policy manifesto election sought support basis claim caused economic growth development late campaign candidate released manifesto according mentioned getting investment job creation skills training single parents increase income install town improve security reduce street crimes rates transform wireless township campaign period prime minister distributed million chinese aided primary schools independent chinese secondary schools missionary schools said government continue chinese education country saying government true friend chinese education addressing chinese families living developed region constituency received total allocation methodist churches town given special grants totalling million federal government final hours election campaign attacked basis coalition arguing vote rocket vote parliamentary leader said issue killer weapon finish chances candidate winning frightening chinese non muslim voters lost parliamentary seats claimed voted longer sold mixed pork reference policy establish malaysia islamic state chief minister revised new land renewal rates took effect june said new land rates malaysia compared states accordance opposition proposal automatic renewal land challenged opposition led state governments announce new land rates lower current announced income state governments prime minister leader promised voters stronghold million alleviate floods won seat stating election appearance deal want million want win set seven point manifesto theme election campaign solving town flood years party coalition government federal state levels point manifesto stated provide aged minimum gift contributions state minimum wage month workers peninsula workers introduced education promised schools given according needs practised points manifesto concerned oil royalty land reform transparency governance focused issues director election campaign pointed decided renew year land land returned government compensation government approved requests renewed pay large said hand wanted current state land code amended allow automatic renewal leased land period years ban issue campaigns gone gone ahead issue campaign election candidate said facts known public promised elected prime minister home minister immediately cease legal dispute christian churches matters protect freedom religion malaysia non muslims challenge candidate stand ban non muslims word stating intends member parliament speaks christian majority constituency moral duty declare stand issue voters decide count speak issue issue brought election decision destroy copies indonesian confiscated questioning association despite having different ideology defended stating rights freedom religion non muslims seen able declare absolutely use term christian publications sought pressure government proposed arguing tax increase prices consumers malaysia states leader pressured speak government education policy claiming choice children educated overseas demonstrated lack confidence malaysian education education criticised involvement sale previously known foundation price local chinese population donated money fund college building results election won margin votes result seen surprise win opposition ended run election defeats parties boosted ahead state elections held victorious claimed election miracle registered voters cast ballot signifying turnout votes deposit failing obtain votes postal votes controversy announcement result marred hour long delay arguments postal votes election agents ballot papers issued postal votes won votes won independent won considered director appointed party team leader charge monitoring postal votes polls mentioned won postal votes declared ballot papers claimed phantom postal voters returned added tally claimed forms state names identification numbers information voters supposed signed voters witnesses election agents noticed witness sign differently different forms forms voters sign concluded saying meant signed behalf added persistent complaints election agents officials agreed consider ballot papers postal votes votes said found postal votes considered finally claimed election truly run properly won bigger majority postal votes rejected won polls majority little result review postal voting system chairman said study proposal early voting session army personnel policemen staff instead posting votes youth wing demanded postal votes abolished altogether claims postal votes longer relevant prone abuse exploitation government benefit aftermath win candidate responses community fear local chinese community leaders defeat affect town growth like opposition good longer fixed deposit terms parliamentary seats neglect state development member said government longer hide fact issues chinese community longer swept carpet following losing chinese majority polling centres election mentioned party win dream referring ambition form federal government 13th general election political scientists mentioned tough time getting support rural areas referring dismal performance rural polling centres encouraged strong support urban chinese community election aiming win chinese majority parliamentary seats seats seven state held chief minister said lost mainly influx malaysia state minister blamed provocative tactics allegedly employed leaders causing defeat candidate referring raising issue president component party state minister land development james warned malaysia based opposition parties refrain practising politics saying break social order country citing incident racial riot occurred lost parliament malaysian general election president congratulated winning candidate immediately election result announced said party completely overwhelmed style politics said outsiders street culture come good nature ensure outsiders gain state state seat minister state cabinet claimed extremely rich fly election remarks came fire defended party saying nearly including members parliament state ordinary members took care expenses stayed party members low budget hotels save expenses said unlike leaders fly class stay star hotels paid federal state government pretext carrying government duties hand obviously campaigning candidate president rights group labelled chinese voting claimed chinese appreciated development projects financial offered endure compromise wish chinese community statement met strong opposition local community including community dubbed statement losing candidate pledged continue serve people party leader hand deputy prime minister malaysia campaign director said promises commitments election party lost election
Sibu by-election, 2010