Terpene

A by-election was held for the Sarawak State Assembly seat of Balingian on 29 March 2014 following the nomination day on 17 March 2014.[1] The incumbent assemblyman and former 33-year Chief Minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud resigned from his post on 28 February 2014.[2] The seat was declared vacant after he took his seat as the new Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak, succeeding Abang Muhammad Salahuddin whose term ended on 28 February.[3] Taib was an assemblyman from the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, a component party of Barisan Nasional. The former chairman of the party, he won by a majority of 5,154 votes against 2 other candidates in the 2011 election.[4]

The election saw a straight fight between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional. Yussibnosh Balo represented Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu while Abdul Jalil Bujang represented Parti Keadilan Rakyat, a component party of Pakatan Rakyat.[5][6] The by-election campaign was marred by allegations that Chief Minister Adenan Satem abused his power when 4 PKR leaders were barred from entering Sarawak during the campaign period.[7]

Yussibnosh Balo retained the very safe BN seat by a majority of 6,911 votes.[8][9]

Results

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Sarawak state by-election, 29 March 2014: Balingian
Upon the resignation of incumbent, Abdul Taib Mahmud
Party Candidate Votes % ∆%
BN Yussibnosh Balo 8,194 86.46 + 10.14
PKR Abdul Jail Bujang 1,283 13.54 + 2.84
Total valid votes 9,477 100.00
Total rejected ballots 146
Unreturned ballots 1
Turnout 9,624 72.00
Registered electors 13,366
Majority 6,911
BN hold Swing {{{2}}}

References

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