Taib: Many Gaya voters shifted after homes demolished
A recent nationwide operation to flush out illegal immigrants had unexpected repercussions on voters in the Gaya by-election last Saturday.
Many voters had to move away after their squatter houses were mistakenly demolished by Sabah authorities during the operation.
Umno vice-president Muhammad Muhd Taib told malaysiakini today that many of these voters did not return to cast their ballots.
Muhammad also said a significant number of voters stayed away from polling because they knew the opposition did not stand a chance.
"I was also informed that many voters, especially those in Sandakan and Tawau, did not turn up simply because they were very confident that Barisan Nasional would win," he said.
Muhammad, who was the Umno co-ordinator for the by-election, also acknowledged the fact that many Chinese Malaysian voters had failed to show up.
Malaysiakini learnt that only 34 percent or 6,000 Chinese Malaysian votes were cast of the 19,000 strong community in the constituency, which forms almost 40 percent of the electorate.
Non-Muslim bumiputras, mainly the Kadazandusun community, make up 33.3 percent while Muslim bumiputras (Malay, Bajau, Bugis, Suluk, Sungai and others) constitute 21.64 percent.
A recent nationwide operation to flush out illegal immigrants had unexpected repercussions on voters in the Gaya by-election last Saturday.
Many voters had to move away after their squatter houses were mistakenly demolished by Sabah authorities during the operation.
Umno vice-president Muhammad Muhd Taib told malaysiakini today that many of these voters did not return to cast their ballots.
Muhammad also said a significant number of voters stayed away from polling because they knew the opposition did not stand a chance.
"I was also informed that many voters, especially those in Sandakan and Tawau, did not turn up simply because they were very confident that Barisan Nasional would win," he said.
Muhammad, who was the Umno co-ordinator for the by-election, also acknowledged the fact that many Chinese Malaysian voters had failed to show up.
Malaysiakini learnt that only 34 percent or 6,000 Chinese Malaysian votes were cast of the 19,000 strong community in the constituency, which forms almost 40 percent of the electorate.
Non-Muslim bumiputras, mainly the Kadazandusun community, make up 33.3 percent while Muslim bumiputras (Malay, Bajau, Bugis, Suluk, Sungai and others) constitute 21.64 percent.
Upset with the government
The Chinese Malaysian community was said to be upset with the BN government on a number of local issues such as 'exorbitant' parking fee, resettlement of squatters and the barring of motorists from entering Gaya Street, a popular thoroughfare.
These issues were exploited in full by opposition parties although their candidates failed to make any significant headway in the contest for the parliamentary seat.
"Instead of voting for the opposition, they (Chinese Malaysians) preferred not to vote at all," said Muhammad.
The overall voter turnout was 44.38 percent or 22, 100 of the 49,427 registered voters. This is the lowest ever recorded for a by-election.
BN retained the seat with a thumping majority of 11, 923 votes. Its candidate, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) vice-president Liew Teck Chan, garnered 15, 639 votes.
DAP's Dr Hiew King Cheu came in second with 3,716 votes, while Keadilan's Christina Liew secured 2,613 votes.
The by-election was called after Gaya representative Yong Teck Lee former Sabah chief minister and current SAPP president was found guilty of breaching the Election Offences Act and the seat was left vacant.
