2020 Kimanis by-election

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 an 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.

2020 Kimanis by-election
18 January 2020
P176 Kimanis seat in the Dewan Rakyat
  First party Second party
  BN WARISAN
Candidate Mohamad Alamin Karim Bujang
Party UMNO WARISAN
Alliance BN PH-WARISAN-UPKO
Popular vote 12,706 10,677
Percentage 54.34% 45.66%
.
MP before election

Anifah Aman (disqualified)
Independent

 Elected MP

Mohamad Alamin
Barisan Nasional (UMNO)

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

On 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

The 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
Malaysian general by-election, 18 January 2020: Kimanis
Upon the disqualification of incumbent, Anifah Aman
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
BNMohamad Alamin12,70654.34%+6.60
WARISANKarim Bujang10,67745.66%-1.43
Total valid votes 23,38398.65%
Total rejected ballots 320
Turnout 23,70379.92
Registered electors 29,664
Majority 2,0298.68
BN hold Swing +8.06

Results according to polling districts
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
Malaysian general election, 2018: Kimanis
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
BNAnifah Aman @ Haniff Amman11,94247.71- 12.95
WARISANKarim Bujang11,78647.09+ 47.09
PHRSJaafar Ismail1,3005.19+ 5.19
Total valid votes 25,028 100.00
Total rejected ballots 385
Unreturned ballots 106
Turnout 25,51986.16
Registered electors 29,618
Majority 1560.62
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.

"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.

References
  1. "Kimanis by-election on Jan 18". Free Malaysia Today. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  2. JOSEPH KAOS Jr (16 December 2019). "Kimanis by-election set for January 18". The Star Online. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  3. "Kimanis parliamentary by-election on Jan 18". Bernama. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  4. MUGUNTAN VANAR and JOSEPH KAOS Jr (17 December 2019). "Will Anifah bid for Kimanis?". The Star Online. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  5. "Warisan to contest in Kimanis by-election after all". Free Malaysia Today. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  6. "Sabah Bersatu offers to contest in Kimanis by-election". Malay Mail. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  7. 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.
  8. "Sabah Umno confirms taking part in Kimanis by-election". Free Malaysia Today. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  9. Jason Santos (1 January 2020). "Umno to field former Bongawan rep Alamin in Kimanis polls". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  10. "PAS backs Umno in Kimanis, will help with campaign". Malaysiakini. 23 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  11. "Anifah confirms won't contest Kimanis by-election but to return in GE15". Malay Mail. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  12. Muguntan Vanar (29 December 2019). "Anifah backs Barisan in Kimanis, stresses immigrant issue". The Star Online. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  13. Jason Santos (23 December 2019). "Warisan, Umno straight fight in Kimanis on the cards". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  14. Kow Gah Chie (27 December 2019). "Sabah BN, PBS unofficially discuss Kimanis cooperation". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  15. Kow Gah Chie (3 January 2020). "PBS opts out of Kimanis race in order not to split votes". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  16. "Straight fight between BN, Warisan in Kimanis". Free Malaysia Today. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  17. "Final dash to the Kimanis finish line". The Star Online. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  18. Hakim Hassan (17 January 2020). "Pas Sementara Sabah: Why Is This An Issue?". The Rakyat Post. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
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