The death of Datuk Sulaiman Taha, the Umno state assemblyman for Tenang, Johor due to complications from diabetes, has triggered another by-election at the constituency. The Election Commission (EC) has announced Jan 22 and Jan 30 as the dates for nomination and polling, respectively.
This would be the 14th by-election since 2008 General Election (GE) and will surely be the bellwether for the next GE which is expected to be held anytime next year.
Since GE 2008, 13 by-elections have been called with 10 of them was caused by the death of lawmakers. From the 13, Pakatan has won eight. However, in 2010, BN appears to have regained their confidence where they won three out of four by-elections held in Hulu Selangor, Sibu, Galas and Batu Sapi. Apart from the loss to DAP in Sibu victory would seem to favor BN in the imminent by-election in the Umno stronghold in Tenang where the late Sulaiman had served for three terms.
Overview of Tenang Constituency
Tenang is part of Labis parliamentary constituency, a stronghold of MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek which is now held by his son Chua Tee Yong after Dr Chua was sidelined in the 2008 GE due to his sex scandal.
Malay voters make up of 49.66 percent of the electorate, Chinese 38.13 percent, Indians 12.11 percent and others 0.10 percent.
In 2008, Sulaiman who was also the Umno Labis division chief beat his PAS opponent Mohd Saim Siran by a 2,492-vote majority – a smaller margin compared to 5,517 in 2004. The electorate size in the 2008 election was 14,511.
This by-election will be the Johor’s first since the last general election.
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the Master Electoral Roll (DPI) 2009 which was merged with the First, Second and Third Quarter Supplementary Electoral Roll 2010 would be used for the Tenang by-election. The electoral roll contained 14,753 voters, including 18 postal voters, comprising 7,014 Malays or 47.54 percent, Chinese (5,766), Indian (1,780), Sabah bumiputera (six), Sarawak bumiputra (five) and Orang Asli (171), he added.
During the Pakatan Rakyat’s second congress that was held in Penang recently, party chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Pakatan leadership has decided that PAS will contest in the by-election.
According to Anwar, the selection of the candidate would be announced later, and that both PKR and DAP would work to ensure a victory for PAS in the imminent by-election.
Possible PAS Candidates
Here is Malaysian Digest’s prediction on the potential candidates PAS would likely be fielding in Tenang the by-election and we have come out with three names.
1. Mazlan Aliman
The PAS central committee member is alsoi the president of Persatuan Anak Peneroka Felda Kebangsaan (Anak) and. In 2008 GE, he contested in DUN Bera, Pahang but lost. With Anak, he has been fighting for the right of the second and third generation Felda settlers.
2. Firdaus Masod
Firdaus is Segamat PAS Youth Chief who is a lawyer by profession. The former student of International Islamic University Malaysia contested in 2008 GE for PAS in Buloh Kasap but lost to BN’s Othman Jais by majority of 4,466.
3. Mohd Saim Siran
Mohd Saim had been contested in Tenang since 2004. In last GE, he lost to the late Sulaiman Taha with a 2,492-vote majority – a narrower margin compared to 5,517 in 2004.
Possible Barisan Nasional Candidate
For the Barisan Nasional candidate, here is Malaysian Digest’s prediction which is based on observations and people’s feedback.
Haslinda Bte Salleh
Haslinda Bte Salleh is the Wanita Umno Chief for Labis Division. Hailing from Chaah, Haslinda is said to be the potential candidate as she has been quite vocal recently, and she has also admitted that the the late Sulaiman Taha is close to the Wanita Umno in Labis.-MalaysiaDigest
