At 1.30 am Sunday, the results from the 15th General Election were far from complete, with over 16 million votes to count the task must have been overwhelming for the volunteers at the designated centres. But the first round of official data coming from the Election Commission was already sending shockwaves across the country, especially in war rooms of big parties like PH, GTA, and BN.
Politicians who were accustomed to riding the general election wave like veteran surfboarders at Bondi Beach were now staring at an unthinkable defeat. Names that have been in the political fabric of the country for decades have been replaced by new very unfamiliar faces. Are we witnessing a new era in Malaysian politics? Nevertheless, while we take comfort in knowing the GE14 was not an anomaly, the journey ahead is going to be brighter for the coming generation as Malaysians have matured enough to make the right decision in choosing the leaders they feel can represent them the best. If they fail, the people will kick them out in the next election.
Out with the old, In with the New
Let us look at some of the names that lost big time in the latest election.
- 1. Datuk Seri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad
- A name that is profound in Malaysia’s rise to become a powerhouse in the region and globally. Known as the father of modernisation, Dr. Mahathir who holds the Langkawi seat has been the country’s Prime Minister 2 times. He held office from 1981 to 2003 and later from 2018 to 2022, for a cumulative 24 years making him the longest-serving Prime Minister in Malaysia, by the way, he is also 97 years old.
- In GE15 the elder statesman, who formed a new party called Gerakan Tanah Air, stood at his stronghold seat Langkawi but lost it by a major margin garnering just 4566 votes and losing his deposit at the same time.
2. Khairy Jamaluddin
Khairy is a rising star and a potential Prime Minister candidate one day, (he said so himself) outcasted by his own admission by party leader Zahid Hamidi in UMNO, the former Health Minister was standing in the unfamiliar territory of Sungai Buloh. The Rembau incumbent air dropped himself in Sg Buloh after the UMNO President replaced his Rembau stronghold with party Deputy Chairman Mohamad Hasan.
Knowing this will be a tough challenge, Khairy went all out using social media, on-the-ground, and media strategy to woo voters in the area who he has never engaged with in the past. But the task was unsurmountable even for the UMNO maverick, Khairy lost the seat to Pakatan Harapan’s Ramanan.
3. Nurul Izzah
The daughter of PKR President Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Nurul has the cradle seat of Permatang Pauh, a family bastion occupied for more than 40 years. A surprise for her and her family, Nurul who won the seat in GE14 lost to PAS who won the seat with 5272 majority votes. Nurul who is also the PKR Vice President garnered 32,366 votes while Muhammad Fawwaz picked up 37, 638 votes.
This marks an end to the Anwar Ibrahim legacy in his home state, leaving many questions on the thought process behind voters’ decisions.
4. Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin
The Plantation Industries and Commodity Minister have failed to hold her Ampang seat possibly due to her loyalty. The former Ampang Member of Parliament was noted for her party-hopping behaviour, Zuraida who initially from PKR jumped ship during the Sheraton move, and joined Bersatu along with Azmin Ali and Tan Sri Muhyiddin. But later quit Bersatu to form BN friendly party Parti Bangsa Malaysia.
She lost her seat to Pakatan Harapan and deposit for a low vote count.
5. Datuk Seri Rina Harum
The controversial Rina Harun has been a mockery say netizens, especially on her social media antics. Counter-reacting to social media critics has often backfired for the Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development. Often criticised for not doing her job as a Minister, Rina was notorious for her video posts that were either insensitive or seen as gimmicks to garner support.
6. Datuk Seri Reezal Merican
Housing and Local Government Minister under the Sabri administration, Reezal was not an astounding character, the UMNO two-term MP of Kepala Batas lost the seat to Perikatan Nasional headed by Tan Sri Muhyiddin. The loss is somewhat of a bellwether to Barisan Nasional which had Kepala Batas since 1974.
Other notable fallen politicians
Tengku Adnan – Putrajaya
Mazlee Malik- Simpang Renggam
Mukriz Mahathir- Jerlun
