The Malaysian Insight

ANWAR Ibrahim enjoyed a big victory in the Port Dickson by-election, as there were no real contenders against the future prime minister, said analysts.

The PKR president-elect last night won by 23,560 votes, which saw the PAS candidate, air force veteran Mohd Nazari Mokhtar, placing second and five of the independents, including former Negri Sembilan menteri besar Isa Samad, losing their deposits. 

Merdeka Centre’s Ibrahim Suffian said Anwar faced no real challenge, as PAS could not penetrate the solid Indian and Chinese voter base and the independents, including Isa, offered little fight, as they had no machinery to speak of.

“There was no real contender to challenge Anwar. The independents lacked machinery so there was no real challenge,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

In the absence of Umno, its vote bank split and backed either Nazari or Anwar but not veteran Isa, he said.

“There were Umno members who voted PAS and Anwar instead of Isa,” said Ibrahim. 

Ilham Center executive director Azlan Ismail said the independents did little to dent Anwar’s chances as Malaysians still voted along party lines and independents counted for little.

“The Isa Samad factor did have some impact but not enough to impact on Anwar’s candidature as voters went with PKR,” he said, adding that the younger Umno voters boycotted Isa, whose Felda scandals appeared to play a factor.

Isa, who was MB for 22 years, finished third with a 4,230 votes but still lost his deposit. 

As for PAS, Universiti Malaya political analyst Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the Islamist party managed to get more votes this time because of the candidate. 

“The PAS candidate is seen as clean even though he was an outsider. This candidate has integrity and no scandals. 

“That is why PAS got the second highest number of military votes. This shows that the candidate matters, not just party.”

The voter turnout was higher than the previous three by-elections in Sg Kandis, Seri Setia and Balakong. 

Analysts felt the big draw was due to Anwar becoming the next prime minister and the excitement surrounding it.

“This was the chance for Port Dickson to become part of history. That’s what made them come out to vote,” Ibrahim said.  

Universiti Utara Malaysia professor Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad stumping for Anwar also catapulted the number of votes for the Pakatan Harapan candidate. 

“There was also the help from Dr Mahathir and that convinced people to vote for Anwar.”

Anwar’s victory is the first step closer to realising his dreams of becoming the next prime minister.

The former deputy prime minister will be sworn in as a MP on Monday. – October 14, 2018.