2018 Penang state election

The 14th Penang election was held on 9 May 2018 to elect the State Assemblymen of the 14th Penang State Legislative Assembly, the legislature of the Malaysian state of Penang.[1] The legislature had been dissolved on 9 April by the state's Governor, Abdul Rahman Abbas, on the advice of the then Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who also led the state's ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.[2]

2018 Penang state election

← 20139 May 20182023 →

40 seats to the Penang State Legislative Assembly
21 seats needed for a majority
Registered945,627
Turnout800,158
 Majority partyMinority partyThird party
  GS
LeaderLim Guan EngTeng Chang YeowMuhammad Fauzi Yusoff
PartyDAPGERAKANPAS
AlliancePHBNGS
Leader since4 September 200422 April 2012Unknown
Leader's seatAir PutihTanjong Bunga (lost)Permatang Pasir (lost)
Last election29 seats, 62.43%
(Pakatan Rakyat)
10 seats, 32.09%1 seat, 5.10%
(Pakatan Rakyat)
Seats before29101
Seats won3721
Seat changeIncrease8Decrease8Steady
Popular vote530,008176,72377,171
Percentage67.20%22.41%9.78%
SwingIncrease4.77%Decrease9.68%Increase4.68%

Pakatan Harapan seats:
  DAP
  PKR
  AMANAH

Opposition seats:

  UMNO
  PAS

Chief Minister before election

Lim Guan Eng
Pakatan Harapan (DAP)

Elected Chief Minister

Chow Kon Yeow
Pakatan Harapan (DAP)

The election was conducted by the Malaysian Election Commission and utilised the first-past-the-post system. Electoral candidates were nominated on 28 April.[1] On 9 May, between 8.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. Malaysian time (UTC+8), polling was held in all 40 state constituencies throughout Penang; each constituency elects a single State Assemblyman to the state legislature.

The PH coalition retained power with a stronger mandate, as it swept eight additional constituencies to hold 37 seats (out of 40) in the Penang State Legislative Assembly; the PH thus commands a supermajority in the legislature.[3] Following the simultaneous Malaysian general election, which saw the PH forming Malaysia's federal government for the first time in the country's history, Chow Kon Yeow was selected as Penang's fifth Chief Minister, succeeding Lim who was appointed as the federal Minister of Finance.[4][5]

Background

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Journalists awaiting the arrival of the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, at The Residency (the official residence of the governor of Penang) in George Town on 9 April 2018 for the dissolution of the Penang State Legislative Assembly.[6]

The state election was the 14th state election in the State of Penang since the independence of Malaya (now Malaysia) in 1957. The governing Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition sought to secure their third consecutive term in office since 2008.

According to the Constitution of the State of Penang, the maximum term of the Penang State Legislative Assembly, the legislature of Penang, is five years from the date of the first sitting of Assembly following a state election, after which it is dissolved by operation of law.[7] The Assembly would have been automatically dissolved on 28 June 2018, the fifth anniversary of its first sitting on 28 June 2013.[8]

However, the Chief Minister, as the head of government in Penang, may advise the Governor, the head of state, to dissolve the Assembly before the five-year period is up. Following the dissolution of the Malaysian Parliament by the then Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak, on 7 April 2018, the Chief Minister of Penang at the time, Lim Guan Eng, was granted the consent of the governor of Penang, Abdul Rahman Abbas, on 9 April to dissolve the Assembly.[9][2][6]

A state election must be held within sixty days after the dissolution. Accordingly, the Malaysian Election Commission set 28 April as the nomination day and 9 May as the polling day.[1] The timing of the election, which was to be held on a weekday as opposed to the usual practice of holding elections on weekends, sparked outrage on social media.[10]

Political parties

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The Pakatan Harapan (PH), the ruling coalition in Penang, has been in power since 2008 and was led by the then Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. In the aftermath of the 2013 state election, the PH controlled 29 out of the 40 seats in the Penang State Legislative Assembly.

The PH was challenged by two opposition coalitions, Barisan Nasional (BN) and Gagasan Sejahtera (GS), as well as a number of individual independent parties.[11] The BN and GS coalitions were led by Teng Chang Yeow and Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff respectively.[12][13]

CoalitionOther parties
IncumbentOpposition
Pakatan Harapan (PH)Barisan Nasional (BN)Gagasan Sejahtera (GS)

Electoral divisions

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All 40 state constituencies within Penang, which constitute the Penang State Legislative Assembly, were contested during the election. The Malaysian Election Commission utilised the updated electoral roll as of the fourth quarter of 2017; voters who had registered by the end of 2017 were therefore eligible for polling.[17] Penang had a total of 945,627 voters as of April 2018.[18]

The state constituencies of Penang (in blue) as of 2013. Unlike most other states in the Peninsular, Penang was unaffected by

the Malaysian Election Commission's redelineation exercise prior to the 14th Malaysian general election.[19][20]

  DAP-controlled seats
  PKR-controlled seats
  UMNO-controlled seats
  PAS-controlled seats

Electoral candidates

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By 27 April 2018, 471 nomination forms for Penang's state constituencies had been sold by the Malaysian Election Commission, making this election the most hotly contested election in Penang's history.[21] A total of 155 candidates vied for the 40 state constituencies.

No.AreaState constituencyIncumbent State AssemblymanNumber of voters[18]Candidate[22]

PH

BN

GS

Ind
N01Seberang PeraiPenagaMohd Zain Ahmad (BN)19,089-Mohd Zain Ahmad (UMNO)Mohd Yusni Mat Piah (PAS)-
N02BertamShariful Azhar Othman (BN)18,378Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (Bersatu)Shariful Azhar Othman (UMNO)Moktar Ramly (PAS)-
N03Pinang TunggalRoslan Saidin (BN)23,056Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman (PKR)Roslan Saidin (UMNO)Bukhori Ghazali (PAS)-
N04Permatang BeranganOmar Abd Hamid (BN)21,120Mohd Shariff Omar (Bersatu)Nor Hafizah Othman (UMNO)Mohd Sobri Saleh (PAS)Azman Shah Othman (PRM)
N05Sungai DuaMuhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor (BN)20,558Yusri Isahak (Amanah)Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor (UMNO)Zahadi Hj. Mohd (PAS)-
N06Telok Ayer TawarJahara Hamid (BN)19,172Mustafa Kamal Ahmad (PKR)Zamri Che Ros (UMNO)Mohamad Hanif Haron (PAS)Lee Thian Hong (PRM)
N07Sungai PuyuPhee Boon Poh (PH)27,671Phee Boon Poh (DAP)Lim Hai Song (MCA)-Tan Lay Hock (PRM)
Ong Yin Yin (PFP)
Neoh Bok Keng (MUP)
N08Bagan JermalLim Hock Seng (PH)25,621Soon Lip Chee (DAP)Ang Chor Keong (MCA)-Teoh Chai Deng (PRM)
Fabian George Albart (PFP)
Hari Devydrai (MUP)
N09Bagan DalamTanasekharan Autherapady (PH)18,291Satees Muniandy (DAP)Dhinagaran Jayabalan (MIC)-Teoh Huck Ping (PRM)
Teoh Uat Lye (MUP)
Jasper Ooi Zong Han (PFP)
N10Seberang JayaAfif Bahardin (PH)35,541Afif Bahardin (PKR)Abu Bakar Sidekh Zainul Abidin (UMNO)Ahmad Rafaei Rashid (PAS)-
N11Permatang PasirMohd Salleh Man (GS)24,811Faiz Fadzil (Amanah)Anuar Faisal Yahaya (UMNO)Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff (PAS)-
N12PenantiNorlela Ariffin (PH)21,437Norlela Ariffin (PKR)Suhaimi Sabudin (UMNO)Fawwaz Mohamad Jan (PAS)-
N13BerapitOng Kok Fooi (PH)23,779Heng Lee Lee (DAP)Goh Swee Gim (MCA)-Song Chee Meng (PRM)
Lee Poh Kong (PFP)
N14Machang BubukLee Khai Loon (PH)37,260Lee Khai Loon (PKR)Tan Teik Cheng (Gerakan)Jamil Abdul Rahman (PAS)Tang Ah Ba (PRM)
Lim Jhun Hou (MUP)
N15Padang LalangChong Eng (PH)27,959Chong Eng (DAP)Kuan Hin Yeep (MCA)-Lai Yean Nee (PRM)
Liew Ee Jin (PFP)
N16PeraiRamasamy Palanisamy (PH)17,032Ramasamy Palanisamy (DAP)Suresh Muniandy (MIC)Asoghan Govindaraju (PAP)Samuganathan Muniandy (PRM)
Patrick Ooi Khar Giap (PFP)
Isumary Retnam
N17Bukit TengahOng Chin Wen (PH)22,276Gooi Hsiao-Leung (PKR)Thor Teong Gee (Gerakan)Norazman Ishak (PAS)Tan Hiang Lye (PRM)
Joseph Edward (PFP)
N18Bukit TambunLaw Choo Kiang (PH)26,086Goh Choon Aik (PKR)Hartini Tan Abdullah (Gerakan)Kumaravelu Arumugam (PAS)Goh Bee Koon (PRM)
Ong Seong Lu (PFP)
N19JawiSoon Lip Chee (PH)26,699H’ng Mooi Lye (DAP)Kiew Hen Chong (MCA)Tan Beng Huat (PAP)Tan Chew Suan (PRM)
Koay Xing Boon (MUP)
Daphne Edward (PFP)
N20Sungai BakapMaktar Shapee (PH)26,666Amar Pritpal Abdullah (PKR)Mohamed Sani Bakar (UMNO)Osman Jaafar (PAS)Tan Chow Kang (PRM)
N21Sungai AchehMahmud Zakaria (BN)20,018Zulkifli Ibrahim (PKR)Mahmud Zakaria (UMNO)Nor Zamri Latiff (PAS)-
N22Penang IslandTanjong BungaTeh Yee Cheu (PH)21,768Zairil Khir Johari (DAP)Teng Chang Yeow (Gerakan)-Chua Cheong Wee (PRM)
Lee Zheng Yong (MUP)
N23Air PutihLim Guan Eng (PH)13,509Lim Guan Eng (DAP)Tang Heap Seng (MCA)Manikandan Ramayah (PCM)Tan Gim Theam (MUP)
N24Kebun BungaCheah Kah Peng (PH)21,369Ong Khan Lee (PKR)Ooi Zhi Yi (Gerakan)-Wu Kai Min (MUP)
N25Pulau TikusYap Soo Huey (PH)18,423Chris Lee Chun Kit (DAP)Loo Jieh Sheng (Gerakan)-Wee Kean Wai (MUP)
N26Padang KotaChow Kon Yeow (PH)14,476Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)H'ng Khoon Leng (Gerakan)-Goh Saik Wei (MUP)
N27Pengkalan KotaLau Keng Ee (PH)20,069Gooi Zi Sen (DAP)Lim Swee Bok (MCA)-Chew Seng Tung (PRM)
Koay Teng Lye (MUP)
Ragindran Sivasamy
N28KomtarTeh Lai Heng (PH)15,041Teh Lai Heng (DAP)Tan Hing Teik (MCA)-Ong Chun Jiet (MUP)
N29Datok KeramatJagdeep Singh Deo (PH)22,630Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP)Lee Boon Ten (Gerakan)-Nicholas Diane Morgan (PFP)
Lim Boo Chang (MUP)
Muhammad Majnun Abdul Wahab
N30Sungai PinangLim Siew Khim (PH)26,917Lim Siew Khim (DAP)Ng Fook On (Gerakan)Yacoob Omar (PAS)Teh Yee Cheu (PSM)
Tan Sim Bee (MUP)
Mohamed Yacoob Mohamed Noor
N31Batu LancangLaw Heng Kiang (PH)27,444Ong Ah Teong (DAP)Koo Pei Chee (Gerakan)-Kee Lean Ee (MUP)
N32Seri DelimaRSN Rayer (PH)25,232Syerleena Abdul Rashid (DAP)Khoo Kay Teong (MCA)-Tan Yang Yung (MUP)
N33Air ItamWong Hon Wai (PH)19,622Joseph Ng Soon Seong (DAP)Tan Kah Leong (Gerakan)-Kang Teik Woi (MUP)
N34Paya TerubongYeoh Soon Hin (PH)46,741Yeoh Soon Hin (DAP)Wong Chin Chong (MCA)-Kuan Aun Wan (MUP)
N35Batu UbanJayabalan Thambyappa (PH)31,924Kumaresan Aramugam (PKR)Hng Chee Wey (Gerakan)Vikneswaran Muniandy (PAS)Teoh Kean Liang (PFP)
Teoh Kok Siang (MUP)
N36Pantai JerejakMohd Rashid Hasnon (PH)23,646Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR)Oh Tong Keong (Gerakan)Mohd Farhan Yusri (PAS)Yim Boon Leong (MUP)
N37Batu MaungAbdul Malik Abdul Kassim (PH)35,210Abdul Halim Hussain (PKR)Liakat Ali Mohamed Ali (UMNO)Saiful Lizan Md Yusuf (PAS)-
N38Bayan LepasNordin Ahmad (BN)26,570Azrul Mahathir Aziz (Amanah)Rusli Hashim (UMNO)Zarina Shinta Madar (PAS)-
N39Pulau BetongMuhamad Farid Saad (BN)18,177Mohd Tuah Ismail (PKR)Muhamad Farid Saad (UMNO)Muhd Taufik Hashim (PAS)Yeoh Cheng Huat (PRM)
N40Telok BahangShah Haedan Ayoob Hussain Shah (BN)14,339Zolkifly Md Lazim (Bersatu)Shah Haedan Ayoob Hussain Shah (UMNO)Mohd Ali Othman (PAS)-

Timeline

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DateEvent[23]
9 April 2018Dissolution of the Penang State Legislative Assembly
11 April 2018Issue of the Writ of Election
28 April 2018Nomination day
28 April - 9 May 2018Campaigning period
5 May 2018Early voting for postal and advance voters
9 May 2018Polling day

Pre-nomination events

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DateEvent
29 October 2017 Tanjong Bunga State Assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu states his intention to quit the Democratic Action Party (DAP) prior to the upcoming election.[24] Teh later announces that he will contest in the Sungai Pinang constituency as an independent candidate under the banner of the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM).[25]
16 January 2018Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN), reveals that it will contest in 10 of the state seats.[26]
4 February 2018 Permatang Pasir State Assemblyman Mohd Salleh Man is dropped out as an election candidate by the leadership of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS).[27]
11 March 2018 Pakatan Harapan (PH) announces the final seat allocation among its four component parties during a rally at the Esplanade in George Town.[28]
14 March 2018 Pulau Tikus State Assemblyman Yap Soo Huey announces that she will not defend her constituency in the upcoming election.[29]
20 March 2018BN kicks off its campaign by indiscriminately pasting anti-PH posters throughout George Town.[30] The move is condemned by, among others, Tenaga Nasional and the Penang Island City Council, with the latter removing all the posters within the same day.[31][32][33] BN is subsequently fined RM13,448 by the city council for the illegal pasting of politically charged material.[34]
28 March 2018The Malaysian Parliament approves the redelineation of electoral constituencies, which was conducted by the Malaysian Election Commission.[35] Penang is unaffected by the redelineation exercise.[19][20]
One of the two Deputy Chief Ministers of Penang and Pantai Jerejak State Assemblyman, Mohd Rashid Hasnon, confirms that he will be relocated out of the state to Johor for the upcoming elections.[36]
9 April 2018The Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, declares the dissolution of the Penang State Legislative Assembly, after obtaining the consent of the Governor of Penang, Abdul Rahman Abbas.[2][6]
10 April 2018The Malaysian Election Commission sets 28 April as the nomination day and 9 May as the polling day; this provides for a minimum campaigning period of 11 days.[1]
Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) states that it will be contesting in 18 of the state constituencies in Penang, and announces its candidates for the 18 seats.[37][38]
12 April 2018 DAP announces that Chong Eng is retained for the Padang Lalang constituency, whilst Heng Lee Lee will be making her political debut in Berapit, replacing the latter's incumbent Ong Kok Fooi.[39]
The Malaysian Prime Minister and BN chairman, Najib Razak, tells voters in Balik Pulau to vote for BN, or get "nothing" if PH still retains Penang.[40] Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng subsequently slams Najib's ultimatum, stating that it is tantamount to "a threat to the country's democratic system".[41]
14 April 2018 National Trust Party (Amanah), a component party of the PH, reveals its candidates for the three state constituencies it is contesting, namely Bayan Lepas, Permatang Pasir and Sungai Dua.[42]
15 April 2018BN unveils its Penang-specific manifesto during an event in Seberang Jaya.[43]
16 April 2018 Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Bersatu), a component party of the PH, announces its candidates for the four state constituencies it is contesting, namely Bertam, Penaga, Permatang Berangan and Telok Bahang.[44] However, the candidate for Penaga, Yaakob Osman, is disqualified on nomination day due to his bankruptcy issues.[45]
19 April 2018 DAP candidates for Tanjong Bunga, Air Putih and Pulau Tikus state constituencies are announced.[46] In particular, Lim Guan Eng, the Chief Minister of Penang who also serves as the incumbent Air Putih State Assemblyman, will be defending the seat for the third consecutive time since 2008, whilst Chris Lee Chun Kit, an ex-councillor of the Penang Island City Council, will be making his political debut in Pulau Tikus.
PAS declares that it will be contesting in 18 of the state constituencies in Penang, and announces its candidates for the 18 seats.[13]
20 April 2018 DAP candidates for Seri Delima, Air Itam and Paya Terubong state constituencies are announced.[47] Two ex-councillors of the Penang Island City Council, Syerleena Abdul Rashid and Joseph Ng Soon Seong, will be making their political debut in Seri Delima and Air Itam respectively.
21 April 2018 DAP candidates for Sungai Puyu, Bagan Jermal, Bagan Dalam, Perai, Jawi, Padang Kota, Pengkalan Kota, Komtar, Datok Keramat, Sungai Pinang and Batu Lancang state constituencies are announced.[48] These include four new candidates - Satees Muniandy (Bagan Dalam), H’ng Mooi Lye (Jawi), Gooi Zi Sen (Pengkalan Kota) and Ong Ah Teong (Batu Lancang).
22 April 2018The Malaysian United Party (MUP) announces its candidates for 20 of the state constituencies.[49]
24 April 2018 The People's Justice Party (PKR), a component party of the PH, names its candidates for 14 of the state constituencies in Penang, namely Pinang Tunggal, Telok Ayer Tawar, Seberang Jaya, Penanti, Machang Bubuk, Bukit Tengah, Bukit Tambun, Sungai Bakap, Sungai Acheh, Kebun Bunga, Batu Uban, Pantai Jerejak, Batu Maung and Pulau Betong.[50] Notably, the party's secretary-general, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, will contest in Pantai Jerejak, replacing the seat's incumbent and Deputy Chief Minister I of Penang, Mohd Rashid Hasnon.
BN reveals its candidates for all of the state constituencies in Penang.[12]
25 April 2018 PH unveils its Penang-specific manifesto at the Penang Chinese Town Hall in George Town.[51]
Penang Front Party (PFP) announces its candidates for 13 of the state constituencies.[52]
Love Malaysia Party (PCM), a component party of the Gagasan Sejahtera (GS) coalition, announces its sole electoral candidate, who will contest the Air Putih state constituency.[53]
27 April 2018 GS reveals its candidates for Machang Bubok, Perai, Bukit Tambun, Jawi and Batu Uban state constituencies.[54]

Nomination centres

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ConstituencyNomination centre[55]
PenagaKepala Batas Industrial Training Institute
Bertam
Pinang Tunggal
Permatang BeranganSungai Dua Community Hall
Sungai Dua
Telok Ayer Tawar
Sungai PuyuSRJK (C) Kwang Hua
Bagan Jermal
Bagan Dalam
Seberang JayaNational Institute of Youth Skills (IKTBN), Bukit Mertajam
Permatang Pasir
Penanti
BerapitJit Sin High School
Machang Bubuk
Padang Lalang
PeraiSeberang Perai Vocational College
Bukit Tengah
Bukit Tambun
JawiJawi Multi-purpose Hall
Sungai Bakap
Sungai Acheh
Tanjong BungaCaring Society Complex, George Town
Air Putih
Kebun Bunga
Pulau Tikus
Padang KotaDewan Sri Pinang, George Town
Pengkalan Kota
Komtar
Datok KeramatPenang Free School
Sungai Pinang
Batu Lancang
Seri DelimaChung Hwa Confucian High School
Air Itam
Paya Terubong
Batu UbanSRJK (C) Min Sin
Pantai Jerejak
Batu Maung
Bayan LepasBalik Pulau Municipal Sports Complex
Pulau Betong
Telok Bahang

Campaign

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A Pakatan Harapan (PH) banner at Burmah Road in George Town uses nasi lemak as an analogy for Penang's position as the top destination in Malaysia for foreign direct investment, as well as the state's low public debt. In an unprecedented move, PH banners depicting famous local dishes have been placed throughout the city.[56][57]

Analysts and news agencies, including Channel NewsAsia, The Straits Times and The Edge, predicted another victory for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) in Penang, due to the PH-led state government's achievements in social welfare and infrastructural developments, as well as Penang's economic growth under PH's tenure.[58][59][60] Even so, the election was still hotly contested over several issues, including the vulnerability of the city-state to natural disasters such as floods and landslides, the proposed Penang Undersea Tunnel, transportation and public housing.[61][62][63]

Flags of the People's Justice Party (PKR) in George Town. The PKR banner serves as the common election symbol of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, hence its use by the coalition's other component parties, DAP, Amanah and Bersatu.

In particular, the PH administration placed considerable emphasis on Penang's achievements under its tenure, such as the state's solid economic performance, rapid development, overall cleanliness, public housing and the administration's social welfare policies.[64][65][66][67] These were seen in contrast to the perceived discrimination of Penang by the Barisan Nasional-led federal government, especially in matters ranging from transportation to the lack of financial aid for Penang's flood victims.[61][66][68][69]

Manifestos

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Barisan Nasional

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The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition launched its Penang-specific manifesto on 15 April 2018 in Seberang Jaya.[43] It pledged, among others, to create a special fund for first time married couples, ban construction projects at hill slopes and at areas 250 ft (76 m) above sea level, build low-cost houses (priced at RM40,000 each) in its Rent-To-Own Housing Schemes, and solve traffic congestion within the city-state.[70] These were in addition to the previous promises made by various BN politicians, including the Malaysian Prime Minister and BN chairman, Najib Razak, to abolish toll charges for motorcycles on the Penang Bridge and to scrap the Penang Undersea Tunnel project, which had been proposed by Penang's Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration.[71][72] BN politicians also claimed that the PH-led state government had failed to fulfil 51 promises and attempted to attract public attention on this issue by illegally pasting anti PH-posters throughout George Town on 20 March.[30][73]

In response, the state government, led by the then Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, slammed BN for deliberately copying the administration's policies into the BN manifesto, stating for the record that the government's policies, including social welfare programmes and reduced assessment rates for low-cost housing, have already been implemented.[73][74] Notably, the BN manifesto failed to address the need for a rail-based public transportation system, such as LRT and monorail, within Penang; Lim maintained that the BN manifesto "offered no alternatives to building a public transport system to alleviate traffic congestion except to sabotage our proposed LRT and under-sea tunnel projects".[75][76][74] Meanwhile, Jagdeep Singh Deo, the incumbent State Assemblyman for Datok Keramat, refuted BN's claims that Penang's PH-led state government had failed to provide affordable housing, reporting that more than 25,000 units of affordable housing have, in fact, been completed within the state.[77] Critics also assert that the BN-led federal government has consistently discriminated the State of Penang by withholding major infrastructure projects and financial grants to the state.[78][79]

Pakatan Harapan

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The launch of Pakatan Harapan's Penang manifesto at the Penang Chinese Town Hall in George Town on 25 April 2018.[51]

The Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition unveiled its Penang-specific manifesto on 25 April 2018 at the Penang Chinese Town Hall in George Town.[51][80] The manifesto encompasses 68 pledges, including the implementation of the Penang Transport Master Plan which incorporates the proposed LRT and monorail services throughout the city-state, the construction of the Penang Undersea Tunnel, free-of-charge public bus services, a health-care programme which offers financial aid for lower-income households, a varsity township in Balik Pulau, the completion of more than 75,000 affordable housing units by 2025, a wider variety of public infrastructure, and a two-term limit for the position of the Chief Minister.[80] In officiating the launch of the manifesto, PH leaders in Penang also promised financial funding for Islamic schools in the state and the promotion of interfaith harmony through the construction of a 'Harmony Centre' for non-Muslim affairs.

Comparison of BN and PH manifestos

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Manifesto

BN[70]

PH[80][81]

Transportation
  • Cancellation of the Penang Undersea Tunnel project
  • Construction of interchanges for congestion-prone roads and expressways
Public housing
  • Construction of 65,000 affordable housing units
  • Completion of 75,361 affordable housing units by 2025
Social welfare
  • Establishment of a special fund for first-time marriages of up to RM2,000 per couple
  • Financial assistance of RM300 for each household with monthly income of less than RM5,000 to cover medical expenses
  • Financial assistance of RM1,000 for women with monthly income below RM2,000
  • Increase in welfare payments for the elderly and the disabled to RM200
Education-
  • Allocation of land for the first Tamil-medium secondary school in Penang
  • Annual financial assistance of RM20 million for vernacular and Islamic religious schools in Penang
  • Construction of a university township in Balik Pulau
Economic development-
Harmonious community-
  • Islamic faith to be enhanced via the sponsorship of religious programmes
  • Increase in funding for the Penang Hindu Endowments Board to RM1.5 million annually
  • Construction of a RM3 million 'Harmony Centre' for non-Muslim affairs
Safety-
  • Installation of 1,000 CCTV units to deter crime
Environment
  • Ban on construction projects at hill slopes and at areas 250 ft (76 m) above sea level
  • Continued preservation of all forest reserves within Penang
  • Rehabilitation of the Jelutong landfill upon the cessation of operations
  • Execution of flood mitigation projects within Penang
Public infrastructure
  • Free parking lots for owners of affordable housing units
Governance-
  • A two-term limit for the position of the Chief Minister
  • Penang Public Accounts Committee chairman to be allocated to the leader of the state opposition

Social media

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The election was notable for the extensive use of social media, particularly by the opposing Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) coalitions.[83] Both sides created numerous videos to disseminate their policies, pledges and ideologies to the public in the run-up to the election.

Videos created by the PH typically depict the improvements experienced by Penangites since 2008, when the coalition's predecessor, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR), was voted into power. The PH-led state government's welfare policies, Penang's economic growth, the refurbishment of existing infrastructure, and efforts to improve cleanliness and reduce crime, as well as the preservation of forest reserves within the state, are often touted in these videos.[84][85][86]

In contrast, BN's videos generated considerable controversy. On 22 February 2018, a video entitled "Penang, would you hear my story?" depicting a woman grousing about her disappointment with the general state of affairs in Penang under PH rule was uploaded online by a BN-linked Facebook page.[87] It received widespread condemnation by netizens and PH politicians alike, and was generally seen as a BN propaganda effort designed to peddle half-truths and myths about Penang's PH-led government.[87][88][89] An official of the state government, Zaidi Ahmad, rebutted all the allegations raised in the video, pointing out, among others, that Penangites' median income and average monthly income were greater than the national average, Penang's relatively low unemployment rate and water tariffs, and that the PH administration has indeed built more affordable housing units within the state.[89] Meanwhile, on 23 April, Grace Teoh Koon Gee, a councillor of the Penang Island City Council, lodged a police report over a BN-made video which painted the PH as a racist party.[90] RSN Rayer, a DAP politician, slammed the video as extremely dangerous and stated that the video was intended to "instigate voters to go against PH".

During the campaigning period, a number of DAP candidates fell victim to slanderous social media content created by BN. For instance, Ramasamy Palanisamy, the Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang and the incumbent State Assemblyman for Perai, lodged a police report on 2 May over a manipulated video of his speech during a rally in Perai, which was reportedly circulated by BN.[91] DAP's candidate in Seri Delima, Syerleena Abdul Rashid, also lodged a police report over BN's baseless allegations that she supported the Christian domination of Penang. BN cybertroopers targeted Satees Muniandy, the DAP candidate in Bagan Dalam, as well, claiming that he owns a luxurious house worth RM527,000.

Rallies

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The Pakatan Harapan rally at the Esplanade in George Town on 28 April 2018.[92]

Instead of holding large-scale rallies solely in Penang's capital city, George Town (on Penang Island), as was the practice in the 2008 and 2013 elections, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) organised simultaneous rallies in both George Town and mainland Seberang Perai.[93] This change of tactic was intended to reach out to more voters, particularly in Seberang Perai, thus negating the need for supporters to travel across the Penang Strait to attend the rallies and reducing traffic congestion within George Town.

The first PH rallies were held concurrently on 28 April 2018 at George Town's Esplanade and Butterworth on the mainland; both rallies, which featured key speakers such as Lim Guan Eng, Nurul Izzah Anwar and Marina Mahathir, collectively attracted more than 120,000 people.[92] Simultaneous PH rallies were also held on 2 May at George Town's Han Chiang College and Juru on the mainland, with the Han Chiang rally alone attended by a 120,000-strong crowd.[93]

The last PH rallies were held at George Town's Esplanade on 7 and 8 May, the latter of which was held simultaneously with other PH rallies in Bayan Baru, Butterworth and Seberang Jaya.[94] The PH rally at the Esplanade on 7 May collected RM84,335.70 worth of donations, with PH supporters staying on site despite the rain.[95] Meanwhile, PH's last Esplanade rally on 8 May featured former United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) politician, Rafidah Aziz, as one of its key speakers, as well as the live telecast of a speech by Mahathir Mohamad, PH's candidate for the position of the Malaysian Prime Minister.[94]

Controversies

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The decision by the Malaysian Election Commission to hold the election on a weekday (Wednesday, 9 May 2018), as opposed to the previous practice of holding elections on weekends, sparked considerable uproar on the Internet.[10] Netizens voiced their displeasure and questioned the need to hold the polling day on a weekday, and alleged that this decision was intended to reduce voter turnout.[96] In particular, voters residing outside Penang could be hampered from returning home for the polling day due to work commitments, thus carrying the potential of a lower voter turnout which would place the Pakatan Harapan (PH) at a disadvantage.[10][96][97] In response to the nationwide criticism of the polling date, the then Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak, subsequently declared 9 May as a national holiday.[98][99]

During the polling day on 9 May, PH candidates, including Lim Guan Eng and Zairil Khir Johari, reported that their mobile phones and social media accounts were being subjected to cyber attacks.[100][101] The candidates alleged that their mobile phones received a continuous stream of automatically generated spam calls from United States-based phone numbers by the minute, disrupting the coalition's communications and operations in the midst of polling.

Election pendulum

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The 14th General Election witnessed 37 governmental seats and 3 non-governmental seats filled the Penang State Legislative Assembly. The government side has 25 safe seats and 2 fairly safe seats. However, none of the non-government side has safe and fairly safe seat.

2018 Penang state election
GOVERNMENT SEATS
Marginal
Pinang TunggalAhmad Zakiyuddin Abd. RahmanPKR38.76
BertamKhaliq Mehtab Mohd. IshaqBERSATU41.20
Sungai AchehZulkifli IbrahimPKR44.19
Telok Ayer TawarMustafa Kamal AhmadPKR44.40
PenantiDr. Norlela AriffinPKR44.95
Permatang PasirMuhammad Faiz Mohamed FadzilAMANAH45.33
Sungai BakapAmar Pritpal AbdullahPKR45.56
Telok BahangZolkifly Md. LazimBERSATU45.65
Pulau BetongMohd. Tuah IsmailPKR49.63
Seberang JayaDr. Afif BahardinPKR53.12
Fairly safe
Bayan LepasAzrul Mahathir AzizAMANAH56.17
Batu MaungAbdul Halim HussainPKR58.72
Safe
Bukit TengahGooi Hsiao-LeungPKR66.16
Sungai PinangLim Siew KhimDAP68.79
Machang BubokLee Khai LoonPKR68.98
Bagan DalamSatees MuniandyDAP72.54
Pantai JerejakSaifuddin Nasution IsmailPKR73.45
Datok KeramatJagdeep Singh DeoDAP75.25
Tanjong BungaZairil Khir JohariDAP76.37
JawiH’ng Mooi LyeDAP78.58
Air ItamJoseph Ng Soon SeongDAP79.76
Batu UbanKumaresan AramugamPKR80.43
Bukit TambunGoh Choon AikPKR81.54
Pulau TikusChris Lee Chun KitDAP82.32
PeraiProf. Dr. Ramasamy PalanisamyDAP82.46
Seri DelimaSyerleena Abdul RashidDAP82.54
KomtarTeh Lai HengDAP84.64
Bagan JermalSoon Lip CheeDAP85.37
Air PutihLim Guan EngDAP85.61
Padang KotaChow Kon YeowDAP85.76
Kebun BungaJason Ong Khan LeePKR86.27
Paya TerubongYeoh Soon HinDAP88.59
Padang LalangChong EngDAP88.66
Pengkalan KotaGooi Zi SenDAP88.87
Batu LancangOng Ah TeongDAP89.01
Sungai PuyuPhee Boon PohDAP90.17
BerapitHeng Lee LeeDAP92.06
NON-GOVERNMENT SEATS
Marginal
Permatang BeranganNor Hafizah OthmanUMNO37.87
Sungai DuaMuhammad Yusoff Mohd. NoorUMNO41.07
PenagaMohd. Yusni Mat PiahPAS53.55

Results

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Maps of Penang election results map by percentage

Seats won

   Pakatan Harapan (92.5%)
Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Pakatan HarapanDemocratic Action Party301,34338.21190
People's Justice Party184,35023.3714+4
Malaysian United Indigenous Party16,9882.152+2
National Trust Party27,3273.462+2
Total530,00867.2037+8
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation101,76112.902–8
Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia43,0925.4600
Malaysian Chinese Association25,7583.2700
Malaysian Indian Congress6,1120.7700
Total176,72322.412–8
Gagasan SejahteraPan-Malaysian Islamic Party76,7469.7310
People's Alternative Party3420.0400
Love Malaysia Party830.0100
Total77,1719.7810
Malaysian United Party2,3660.3000
Parti Rakyat Malaysia1,1900.1500
Penang Front Party6310.0800
Socialist Party of Malaysia2230.0300
Independents3750.0500
Total788,687100.00400
Valid votes788,68798.57
Invalid/blank votes11,4711.43
Total votes800,158100.00
Registered voters/turnout945,62784.62
Source: The Star[102]
An animated electoral map of Penang, depicting the state constituencies gained by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the 2018 Election.
Pakatan Harapan
  DAP-controlled seats
  PKR-controlled seats
  Bersatu-controlled seats
  Amanah-controlled seats

Barisan Nasional
  UMNO-controlled seats

Gagasan Sejahtera
  PAS-controlled seats

The Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition scored its best ever electoral results in Penang's history, seizing eight additional seats to increase its tally in the Penang State Legislative Assembly to 37, or 92.5% of the legislature.[3] The election marked the debut of PH's newest component parties - the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Bersatu) and the National Trust Party (Amanah) - into Penang's political arena, with each of the parties winning two constituencies. The People's Justice Party (PKR) also successfully increased its share in the legislature from 10 seats to 14 seats. Meanwhile, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) saw an increase in the majority in some of its 19 seats. The incumbent Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, defended the Air Putih constituency with over 80% of the popular vote, while Chow Kon Yeow won in Padang Kota with more than 70% of the popular vote.[103] The largest margin of victory was recorded in Paya Terubong, where Yeoh Soon Hin of the DAP won by 31,189 votes.[104]

The election also saw BN's worst performance in Penang's history, as the coalition lost eight constituencies to the PH and retained only two, both of which are won by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).[105] Once again, BN's other component parties, namely Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan), the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), did not win any seat. Although the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) lost the Permatang Pasir constituency, it managed to capture the Penaga constituency from the BN, thus giving the Islamist party a single seat in the Penang State Legislative Assembly.

PH 37 | BN 2 | GS 1 | Independent 0
ConstituencyWinnerPartyVotesOpponent(s)PartyVotesMajorityIncumbent
PenagaMohd Yusni Mat PiahPAS8,530Mohd Zain AhmadUMNO7,3981,132Mohd Zain Ahmad

(UMNO)

BertamKhaliq Mehtab Mohd IshaqBersatu6,485Shariful Azhar OthmanUMNO6,268217Shariful Azhar Othman

(UMNO)

Moktar RamlyPAS2,986
Pinang TunggalAhmad Zakiyuddin Abdul RahmanPKR7,754Roslan SaidinUMNO7,627127Roslan Saidin

(UMNO)

Bukhori GhazaliPAS4,622
Permatang BeranganNor Hafizah OthmanUMNO6,870Mohd Shariff OmarBersatu5,021646Omar Haji Abd Hamid

(UMNO)

Mohd Sobri SalehPAS6,224
Azman Shah OthmanPRM24
Sungai DuaMuhamad Yusoff Mohd NoorUMNO7,314Yusri IsahakAmanah5,1151,934Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor

(UMNO)

Zahadi Hj. MohdPAS5,380
Telok Ayer TawarMustafa Kamal AhmadPKR7,072Zamri Che RosUMNO4,8692,203Jahara Hamid

(UMNO)

Mohamad Hanif HaronPAS3,900
Lee Thian HongPRM88
Sungai PuyuPhee Boon PohDAP21,705Lim Hai SongMCA2,13619,569Phee Boon Poh

(DAP)

Tan Lay HockPRM101
Ong Yin YinPFP51
Neoh Bok KengMUP79
Bagan JermalSoon Lip CheeDAP18,134Ang Chor KeongMCA2,89815,236Lim Hock Seng

(DAP)

Teoh Chai DengPRM74
Fabian George AlbartPFP30
Hari DevydraiMUP106
Bagan DalamSatees MuniandyDAP10,701Dhinagaran JayabalanMIC3,9186,783Tanasekharan Autherapady

(DAP)

Teoh Huck PingPRM45
Jasper Ooi Zong HanPFP36
Teoh Uat LyeMUP51
Seberang JayaAfif BahardinPKR16,014Abu Bakar Sidekh Zainul AbidinUMNO8,5937,421Afif Bahardin

(PKR)

Ahmad Rafaei RashidPAS5,540
Permatang PasirFaiz FadzilAmanah9,708Anuar Faisal YahayaUMNO4,9792,981Mohd Salleh Man

(PAS)

Muhammad Fauzi YusoffPAS6,727
PenantiNorlela AriffinPKR8,221Suhaimi SabudinUMNO5,2772,944Norlela Ariffin

(PKR)

Fawwaz Mohamad JanPAS4,791
BerapitHeng Lee LeeDAP18,378Goh Swee GimMCA1,39716,981Ong Kok Fooi

(DAP)

Song Chee MengPRM84
Lee Poh KongPFP105
Machang BubukLee Khai LoonPKR21,819Tan Teik ChengMCA4,65816,747Lee Khai Loon

(PKR)

Jamil Abdul RahmanPAS5,072
Tang Ah BaPRM53
Lim Jhun HouMUP28
Padang LalangChong EngDAP20,764Kuan Hin YeepGerakan2,40018,364Chong Eng

(DAP)

Lai Yean NeePRM154
Liew Ee JinPFP101
PeraiRamasamy PalanisamyDAP11,243Suresh MuniandyMIC2,1949,049Ramasamy Palanisamy

(DAP)

Asoghan GovindarajuPAP33
Samuganathan MuniandyPRM37
Patrick Ooi Khar GiapPFP104
Isumary Retnam-23
Bukit TengahGooi Hsiao-LeungPKR12,535Thor Teong GeeGerakan3,9778,558Ong Chin Wen

(PKR)

Norazman IshakPAS2,355
Tan Hiang LyePRM53
Joseph EdwardPFP27
Bukit TambunGoh Choon AikPKR18,064Hartini Tan AbdullahGerakan3,18414,880Law Choo Kiang

(PKR)

Kumaravelu ArumugamPAS735
Goh Bee KoonPRM117
Ong Seong LuPFP54
JawiH’ng Mooi LyeDAP17,559Kiew Hen ChongMCA4,18813,371Soon Lip Chee

(DAP)

Tan Beng HuatPAP309
Tan Chew SuanPRM51
Daphne EdwardPFP73
Koay Xing BoonMUP165
Sungai BakapAmar Pritpal AbdullahPKR10,386Mohamed Sani BakarUMNO8,0382,348Maktar Shapee

(PKR)

Osman JaafarPAS4,316
Tan Chow KangPRM55
Sungai AchehZulkifli IbrahimPKR7,486Mahmud ZakariaUMNO7,070416Mahmud Zakaria

(UMNO)

Nor Zamri LatiffPAS2,383
Tanjong BungaZairil Khir JohariDAP13,245Teng Chang YeowGerakan3,9029,343Teh Yee Cheu

(DAP)

Chua Cheong WeePRM122
Lee Zheng YongMUP74
Air PutihLim Guan EngDAP9,362Tang Heap SengMCA1,4047,958Lim Guan Eng

(DAP)

Manikandan RamayahPCM83
Tan Gim TheamMUP87
Kebun BungaOng Khan LeePKR14,851Ooi Zhi YiGerakan2,25412,597Cheah Kah Peng

(PKR)

Wu Kai MinMUP110
Pulau TikusChris Lee Chun KitDAP11,679Loo Jieh ShengGerakan2,4349,245Yap Soo Huey

(DAP)

Wee Kean WaiMUP75
Padang KotaChow Kon YeowDAP9,278H'ng Khoon LengGerakan1,4707,808Chow Kon Yeow

(DAP)

Goh Saik WeiMUP71
Pengkalan KotaGooi Zi SenDAP15,037Lim Swee BokMCA1,64713,390Lau Keng Ee

(DAP)

Chew Seng TungPRM68
Koay Teng LyeMUP82
Ragindran Sivasamy-87
KomtarTeh Lai HengDAP10,113Tan Hing TeikMCA1,7508,363Teh Lai Heng

(DAP)

Ong Chun JietMUP85
Datok KeramatJagdeep Singh DeoDAP13,712Lee Boon TenGerakan4,1519,561Jagdeep Singh Deo

(DAP)

Nicholas Diane MorganPFP18
Lim Boo ChangMUP194
Muhammad Majnun Abdul Wahab-146
Sungai PinangLim Siew KhimDAP15,362Ng Fook OnGerakan4,97410,388Lim Siew Khim

(DAP)

Yacoob OmarPAS1,575
Teh Yee CheuPSM223
Tan Sim BeeMUP79
Mohamed Yacoob Mohamed Noor-119
Batu LancangOng Ah TeongDAP20,615Koo Pei CheeGerakan2,40718,208Law Heng Kiang

(DAP)

Kee Lean EeMUP139
Seri DelimaSyerleena Abdul RashidDAP16,553Khoo Kay TeongMCA3,34213,211RSN Rayer

(DAP)

Tan Yang YungMUP159
Air ItamJoseph Ng Soon SeongDAP12,588Tan Kah LeongGerakan3,0479,541Wong Hon Wai

(DAP)

Kang Teik WoiMUP148
Paya TerubongYeoh Soon HinDAP35,315Wong Chin ChongMCA4,12631,189Yeoh Soon Hin

(DAP)

Kuan Aun WanMUP421
Batu UbanKumaresan AramugamPKR21,079Hng Chee WeyGerakan3,80617,273Jayabalan Thambyappa

(PKR)

Vikneswaran MuniandyPAS1,176
Teoh Kean LiangPFP32
Teoh Kok SiangMUP116
Pantai JerejakSaifuddin Nasution IsmailPKR14,014Oh Tong KeongGerakan3,29810,716Mohd Rashid Hasnon

(PKR)

Mohd Farhan YusriPAS1,670
Yim Boon LeongMUP97
Batu MaungAbdul Halim HussainPKR17,380Liakat Ali Mohamed AliUMNO9,0638,317Abdul Malik Abdul Kassim

(PKR)

Saiful Lizan Md YusufPAS3,153
Bayan LepasAzrul Mahathir AzizAmanah12,504Rusli HashimUMNO7,2595,245Nordin Ahmad

(UMNO)

Zarina Shinta MadarPAS2,497
Pulau BetongMohd Tuah IsmailPKR7,675Muhamad Farid SaadUMNO6,0791,596Muhammad Farid Saad

(UMNO)

Muhd Taufik HashimPAS1,645
Yeoh Cheng HuatPRM64
Telok BahangZolkifly Md LazimBersatu5,482Shah Haedan Ayoob Hussain ShahUMNO5,057425Shah Haedan Ayoob Hussain Shah

(UMNO)

Mohd Ali OthmanPAS1,469

Seats that changed allegiance

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No.SeatPrevious Party (2013)Current Party (2018)
N01 PenagaBarisan Nasional (UMNO)Gagasan Sejahtera (PAS)
N02 BertamBarisan Nasional (UMNO)Pakatan Harapan (BERSATU)
N03 Pinang TunggalBarisan Nasional (UMNO)Pakatan Harapan (PKR)
N06 Telok Ayer TawarBarisan Nasional (UMNO)Pakatan Harapan (PKR)
N11 Permatang PasirGagasan Sejahtera (PAS)Pakatan Harapan (AMANAH)
N21 Sungai AchehBarisan Nasional (UMNO)Pakatan Harapan (PKR)
N38 Bayan LepasBarisan Nasional (UMNO)Pakatan Harapan (AMANAH)
N39 Pulau BetongBarisan Nasional (UMNO)Pakatan Harapan (PKR)
N40 Telok BahangBarisan Nasional (UMNO)Pakatan Harapan (BERSATU)

Aftermath

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The 14th Malaysian general election, which was held simultaneously with the Penang state election, resulted in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition seizing power at the federal level from the incumbent Barisan Nasional (BN), making the election the first time since independence Malaysia experienced a regime change.[106] On 12 May 2018, the incumbent Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, was appointed the Finance Minister by the new Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad.[107] Chow Kon Yeow, the chairperson of the Democratic Action Party in Penang, had been endorsed by Lim to succeed the latter as the Chief Minister; Chow was sworn in as Penang's fifth Chief Minister on 14 May.[5]

Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional's Penang chief, Teng Chang Yeow, announced his retirement from politics in the aftermath of the coalition's rout in the hands of the PH.[108] Aside from the PH administration's exemplary performance in Penang in the preceding 10 years, the trouncing of the BN was also attributed to the Malaysia-wide tsunami against the perceived corruption and maladministration by the previous BN-led federal government.[109] Teng's counterpart in the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Zainal Abidin Osman, also tendered his resignation as the Penang chief of the BN component party.[110]

On 23 June, Teng's former party Gerakan, through the decision of its central committee, announced its exit from Barisan Nasional.[111]

See also

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References

edit
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