Many BN First Timers Lose In Election

KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 (Bernama) - Many of the first time contestants from Barisan Nasional (BN) became casualties of the unprecedented swing against the ruling party in Saturday's general election.



The few from BN who made it included the Prime Ministers son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's son Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir and Sarawak Chief Minister's son Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib.

Khairy won the Rembau parliamentary seat with 26,525 votes, defeating PKR candidate Badrul Hisham Shaharin who obtained 20,779 votes. Mukhriz took the Jerlun parliamentary seat with a majority of 2,205 votes, beating Idris Ahmad of PAS.

Sulaiman replaced his father Tan Sri Taib Mahmud in the Kota Samarahan parliamentary seat and won it with 15,559 votes, defeating PKR candidate Hussain Abang Apok (4,148) and Independent Awang Bakar Awang Daud (898). Sulaiman won with a majority of 11,411 votes.

In another three-cornered fight, BN first timer and Umno Tanjung Malim Wanita chief Datuk Rosnah Kassim won with 13,057 votes from PKR's A. Ayyathurai (7,825 votes) and Independent M. Sathiya Seelan (360).

Chua Tee Yong, son of former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, beat DAPs Teo Eng Ching for the Labis parliamentary seat with 13,658 votes for a 4,094-vote majority against Teo's 9,564 votes.

A daughter of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and two sons of DAP chairman Karpal Singh were among the newcomers from the opposition who defeated BN opponents.

Anwars Nurul Izzah seized the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat from the incumbent, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil.

The PKR candidate won with a 2,895 majority, gathering 21,728 votes against Shahrizat's 18,833. Karpals younger son Gobind Singh Deo thumped BN's Lau Yeng Peng in the Puchong state seat with 35,079 votes for a 12,593-vote majority.

Gobind's elder brother, Jagdeep Singh Deo, gave DAP the Datuk Keramat state seat in Penang by beating incumbent Ong Thean Lye with a 1,855-vote majority. Jagdeep had 7,995 votes and Ong 6,140.

DAP's M. Manoharan, currently detained under ISA, won the Kota Alam Shah state seat in Selangor with 12,699 votes despite being unable to campaign. A first timer, he defeated BN candidate Ching Su Chen who obtained 5,515 votes.

Another newcomer for DAP, Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, a former lecturer with UKM, won both the Perai state seat and the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat where he turned giant killer to defeat Penang chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

For the Perai state, seat he bested his opponents by collecting 7,668 votes, compared with BNs L. Krishnan who got 2,492 votes while Independent Ulaganathan K.A.P. Ramasamy received 311 votes.

Lim Si Pin, son of former Gerakan president Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, lost to PKR's Chua Tian Chang in the Batu parliamentary seat with only 20,330 votes against the latters 29,785.

Similarly, Datuk Ling Hee Leong, son of former MCA president and Transport Minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik was beaten by PKRs Lee Boon Chye for the Gopeng parliamentary seat. Lee obtained 29,696 votes compared to Lings 22,328 votes.

The BN candidate for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat, Umno Treasurer Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi, lost in a three-cornered fight. He had 18,449 votes to Pas candidate Roslam Shaharums 20,015 votes and Independent M. Mohganans 872 votes.

Another first timer for BN was Tan Yoke Cheng who lost in the Air Putih state seat in Penang to DAPs Lim Guan Eng (6,601 votes) as Tan obtained only 2,540 votes.

Liew Mun Hon of MCA, who made his debut in this election, was beaten by Lims father and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, 37,364 votes to 15,422.

Gwo-Burne, Loh who took the infamous Lingam video, won a parliamentary seat for PKR. He beat Lee Hwa Beng of BN and Lim Peng Soon, an independent. Gow-Burne received 30,298 votes, Lee 25,267 and Lim 1,895.


The BN candidate for the Port Klang state seat, Roselinda Abdul Jalil, the daughter-in-law of the controversial former holder of the seat, Datuk Zakaria Md Deros, lost, garnering 7,990 votes to PKR's Badrul Hisham Abdullahs 12,397 votes and Independent Nazir Mansors 580 votes