2007 Machap by-election

State assembly seat N.08 Machap lies in parliamentary seat P.135 Alor Gajah. As of the 2004 General Elections, Machap was a majority Chinese seat (45.6%), followed by Malays (38.3%), Indians (15.3%) and others (0.7%). In the 2004 election, the late Datuk Wira Poh Ah Tiam of the MCA, a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, garnered 5,847 votes, defeating Liou Chen Kuang of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) (1,285 votes) by a majority of 4,562 votes.{{cite web|title=Nominee Details for the state assembly - MACHAP |publisher=pilihanraya.com.my |url=http://www.pilihanraya.com.my/English/assemblyNominees.asp?assemblyId=143 |access-date=22 March 2007 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The English language daily The Star reported on 17 March 2007 that the opposition People's Justice Party (PKR) was the first to express interest in contesting the seat, with its information chief Tian Chua as the likely candidate.{{cite web| title = PKR may field Tian Chua in by-election| publisher = thestar.com.my| date = 17 March 2007| url = http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/3/18/nation/17180802&sec=nation| access-date = 22 March 2007| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070320205044/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2007%2F3%2F18%2Fnation%2F17180802&sec=nation| archive-date = 20 March 2007| df = dmy-all}} Meanwhile, on 20 March 2007, the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) declared it would not field a candidate in the by-election, citing the fact that the seat has traditionally been a DAP versus BN contest.{{cite web| title = PAS to stay out of Machap| publisher = thestar.com.my| date = 20 March 2007| url = http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/3/20/nation/17192849&sec=nation| access-date = 22 March 2007| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110521051700/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2007%2F3%2F20%2Fnation%2F17192849&sec=nation| archive-date = 21 May 2011| df = dmy-all}} The DAP and the ruling BN declined to comment on their plans until after Poh's funeral on 21 March 2007.[http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/index.php?itemid=3197 EC to set polls date on March 21] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012133334/http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/index.php?itemid=3197 |date=12 October 2007 }}. (17 March 2007). Malaysia Today.

Nonetheless, this did not stop the media from speculating. Those linked to Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn, the Malaysian Minister of Human Resources, MP for Alor Gajah and MCA vice-president, were named as possible BN candidates. The list included Fong's special assistant Ngow Dow Soon, his political secretary Lai Meng Chong and his private secretary Chew Chong Lin.{{cite web|last=Gerald |first=J. |title=One of Fong's men likely candidate |publisher=nst.com.my |date=21 March 2007 |url=http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Wednesday/National/20070321073026/Article/local1_html |access-date=22 March 2007 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} From the opposition camp, besides PKR's Tian Chua, potential candidates from the DAP include Liou Chen Kuang, whom Poh had beaten in the last general election, or Tey Kok Kiew, special assistant to the party's secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

On 22 March 2007, PKR and DAP reached an agreement, whereby PKR will yield the seat to DAP in the by-election, but will contest the seat in the next General Elections.{{cite web | title = Machap: PKR gives way to DAP, with conditions (subscription required)| publisher = malaysiakini.com| date = 22 March 2007| url = http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/64874| access-date = 23 March 2007}} PKR has also agreed to provide support to DAP but will not be directly involved in campaigning.{{cite web | title = DAP looks forward to PKR's assistance (subscription required)| publisher = malaysiakini.com| date = 24 March 2007| url = http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/64874| access-date = 26 March 2007}} Meanwhile, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting announced on 26 March 2007 that an MCA Presidential Council meeting on 27 March 2007 will choose the BN's candidate. The chosen candidate will be revealed after obtaining formal approval from the BN chairman, incumbent Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.{{cite web | title = MCA putuskan calon Machap esok (subscription required)| language = ms| publisher = malaysiakini.com| date = 26 March 2007| url = http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/65055| access-date = 27 March 2007}}

Image:DAP leaders and candidate at Machap.jpg (centre, foreground, without cap).]]

On 30 March 2007, the DAP announced its candidate for the seat in the 2004 General Elections, 33-year-old Liou Chen Kuang, will contest in the by-election. Liou, a businessman, was chosen again despite losing in the last election. He was chosen due to his "knowledge of the local terrain", grassroots support, and his willingness "to serve Machap constituents".{{cite web | title = DAP's Liou to vie for Machap again (subscription required)| publisher = malaysiakini.com| date = 30 March 2007| url = http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/64874| access-date = 30 March 2007}} The DAP also announced it would use the slogan Machap Demokrasi (Machap Democracy) to raise awareness among voters on the importance of democracy in Malaysia.

Three days later, on 2 April 2007, the BN deputy chairman and incumbent Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak named a local MCA politician, 56-year-old Lai Meng Chong as the coalition's candidate for the by-election.{{cite web| title = Lai Meng Chong Is BN Candidate For Machap By-Election| publisher = bernama.com.my| date = 2 April 2007| url = http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=254582| access-date = 3 April 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102920/http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=254582| archive-date = 29 September 2007| url-status = dead| df = dmy-all}}

Image:MIC Youth in Machap.jpg (MIC), were involved in scuffles.]]

During nomination day on 3 April 2007, a scuffle occurred between DAP and BN supporters. Two DAP supporters were injured in the scuffle, which erupted after some name-calling and sloganeering.Puah, P., "Scuffle mars nomination day", The Sun, 4 April 2007 Following the incident, police arrested a man after receiving four reports, two from the injured man, and two each from a journalist and a photographer from the Tamil dailies Malaysian Nanban and Makkal Osai, respectively.

The opposition parties had alleged that the country's election process was not transparent and could be manipulated. However, the EC chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman on 21 March 2007 denied the allegations and challenged political parties to take the commission to court on the matter.{{cite web| title = Take us to court: EC| publisher = dailyexpress.com.my| date = 22 March 2007| url = http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=48432| access-date = 24 March 2007| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234440/http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=48432| archive-date = 26 September 2007| df = dmy-all}} Despite the denial, the DAP described the EC's move of not fixing the elections on a weekend as an "act of biasness to benefit the BN".{{cite web| last = Ng| first = K.S.| title = DAP: It's an act of biasness to benefit BN| publisher = sun2surf.com| date = 23 March 2007| url = http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=17381| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201017050359/http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=17381| url-status = dead| archive-date = 17 October 2020| access-date = 24 March 2007}}

On 27 March 2007, as an attempt to counter the opposition's grievances on the transparency of the election process, the EC announced that new, translucent plastic ballot boxes will be used in the by-elections, replacing the black metal ballot boxes used in previous elections. According to the EC, the new box is also lighter at only 500 grams, as compared to the metal box, which weighed 1.5 kg.{{cite web|last=Lee |first=C. |title=EC announces new translucent ballot box for use in general election |publisher=nst.com.my |date=28 March 2007 |url=http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Wednesday/NewsBreak/20070328132922/Article/index_html |access-date=30 March 2007 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Due to alleged irregularities in the Malaysian election process, two major opposition parties, PAS and DAP, boycotted the January 2007 Batu Talam State by-election in Pahang, which the BN won after defeating an independent candidate. DAP's decision to now contest in Machap has led the BN to accuse opposition parties of being "inconsistent" with regards to boycotting elections.{{cite web|last=Ng |first=E. |title=Opposition stand on polls 'inconsistent' |publisher=nst.com.my |date=23 March 2007 |url=http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Friday/National/20070323090233/Article/local1_html |access-date=24 March 2007 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Some pundits opine that the Machap by-election, given the constituency's ethnic composition, may reflect support from the Chinese community for the ruling BN.{{cite web|last=Nadzri |first=S. |title=Chinese mood up for measure |publisher=nst.com.my |date=20 March 2007 |url=http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Tuesday/Columns/20070320075643/Article/index_html |access-date=24 March 2007 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}Hong, C., "By-election will be test of Chinese support for KL govt", The Straits Times, 23 March 2007 Many Chinese voters abandoned the BN in the 2006 Sarawak state elections, BN's worst showing in a long time in the traditionally safe state, whereby nine seats, seven of which were predominantly Chinese, went to the opposition. The dissatisfaction was because of economic issues and a renewed push by some Malay BN politicians for more privileges under the Malaysian New Economic Policy. A December 2006 survey by independent social research outfit the Merdeka Centre, found that 60% of Chinese voters nationwide were open to voting for the opposition.

Some pundits argue the by-election might not reflect the purported general sentiments of the Chinese. They believe that the DAP faces an uphill battle against the incumbent BN, as Machap is a rural constituency whereby local concerns predominate national issues and constituents are more conservative and less receptive to change.{{cite web| last = Lee| first = Y.P.| title = Machap by-election: Day of reckoning dawns| publisher = thestar.com.my| date = 11 April 2007| url = http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/11/nation/17402684&sec=nation| access-date = 11 April 2007| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110521052338/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2007%2F4%2F11%2Fnation%2F17402684&sec=nation| archive-date = 21 May 2011| df = dmy-all}} Furthermore, the deceased Datuk Wira Poh Ah Tiam was popular and had a good service record in Machap, having served for three consecutive terms and bringing tangible development in the constituency.

The day before the election, Malaysiakini reported that BN had distributed 1,000 VCDs containing a video clip of a campaigner from the PKR stating that a vote for the DAP would be a vote for the Barisan Alternatif, a coalition comprising PKR and PAS. The DAP was a former member of the coalition, but pulled out after disagreement on PAS' advocacy of an Islamic state. MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn alleged the video was proof of the DAP's covert co-operation with PAS, and stated that BN had "to let the people in Machap know that voting for DAP will help realise PAS' plan to turn Malaysia into a theocratic state".{{cite news| last = Beh| first = Lih Yi| title = VCD alleges DAP-PAS 'secret pact' (subscription required) | publisher = Malaysiakini| date = 11 April 2007| url = http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/65803}}

The EC also stated that 50 PAS party flags had been removed, as PAS was not contesting the by-election. The DAP alleged that the flags had not been put up by PAS, and claimed that BN supporters had raised them. Confronted by the media on the DAP's claims, Fong denied any knowledge of such actions, calling it "just speculation".

Voter turnout was low in the morning, reaching only 23% by 11.00 am. However, turnout picked up at lunchtime, hitting 59.2% by 3.00pm. Weather conditions were generally favorable throughout the day with only scattered showers in late afternoon, which resulted in the relatively high turnout of 74.4% at the 5.00 pm close.{{cite web | last = Beh | first = L.Y. | title = Machap: A slightly higher voter turnout (subscription required)| publisher = malaysiakini.com| date = 12 April 2007| url = http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/65823| access-date = 13 April 2007}}

However, the day was marred by allegations of vote-buying against the BN made by the DAP. According to a DAP party worker, a tip-off was received by the party at around 12.00 pm that a vacant house was used to disburse vote-buying money. Voters were alleged to have received as much as RM200 (ca. US$58) from BN operatives. However, in an immediate reaction, MCA president Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting brushed off the allegation, calling the DAP's allegations baseless and made for "political mileage".{{cite news|first=Lih Yi|last=Beh|author2=Soon, Li Tsin | title = Vote buying: We've the photos, claims DAP (subscription required)| publisher = Malaysiakini| date = 12 April 2007| url = http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/65858| access-date = 13 April 2007}}

In a post-election analysis, senior DAP leader Tony Pua alleged that although BN and Lai had been caught in the act offering to renovate houses and passing out free food and drinks, in direct contravention of electoral laws, the Election Commission had taken no action.{{cite web | last = Pua | first = Tony | title = Machap: A Reflection (II)| date = 16 April 2007| url = http://tonypua.blogspot.com/2007/04/machap-reflection-ii.html| access-date = 16 April 2007}}

The DAP later filed a complaint with the EC over the alleged vote-buying incidents, including claims that the government had announced development projects to secure support. The EC chairman rejected the latter allegation, stating that such actions were legal and within the government's discretion.{{cite news| last = Manirajan | first = R | title = Some voters were bribed, say DAP | work = The Sun| date = 18 April 2007| page=2}} MCA president Ong also rejected the claims, saying it was common for the opposition to make such allegations after electoral defeats, and accused the DAP of being contradictory in first blaming the government for not developing Machap, but later saying the development was vote-buying.{{cite news| last = Giam | first = Say Khoon | title = It's an old trick by DAP, says MCA| work = The Sun| date = 18 April 2007| page=2}}

{{MASelec/top|Malacca|12 April 2007|by=yes|Machap (state constituency)|Machap|percent=yes|change=yes|reason=Upon the death of incumbent, Poh Ah Tiam}}

{{MASelec|Barisan Nasional|Lai Meng Chong|5,533|79.21|}}

{{MASelec|Democratic Action Party|Liou Chen Kuang|1,452|20.79|}}

{{MASelec/total|Total valid votes|6,985| 100.00}}

{{MASelec/total|Total rejected ballots|166|}}

{{MASelec/total|Unreturned ballots||}}

{{MASelec/total|Turnout|7,151|74.31}}

{{MASelec/total|Registered electors|9,623|}}

{{MASelec/total|Majority|4,081|}}

{{MASelec/hold|Barisan Nasional|}}

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Category:2007 elections in Malaysia

Category:2007 in Malaysia

2007 Machap by-election

Category:Elections in Malacca