2014 Balingian by-election

A by-election was held for the Sarawak State Assembly seat of Balingian on 29 March 2014 following the nomination day on 17 March 2014.[1] The incumbent assemblyman and former 33-year Chief Minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud resigned from his post on 28 February 2014.[2] The seat was declared vacant after he took his seat as the new Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak, succeeding Abang Muhammad Salahuddin whose term ended on 28 February.[3] Taib was an assemblyman from the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, a component party of Barisan Nasional. The former chairman of the party, he won by a majority of 5,154 votes against 2 other candidates in the 2011 election.[4]

2014 Balingian by-election

 2011
29 March 2014
2016 

Balingian seat in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
  BN PKR
Candidate Yussibnosh Balo Abdul Jalil Bujang
Party BN (PBB) PKR
Alliance PR
Popular vote 8,194 1,283
Percentage 86.46% 13.54%

Batang Air assemblyman before election

Abdul Taib Mahmud
BN (PBB)

Elected Batang Air assemblyman

Yussibnosh Balo
BN (PBB)

The election saw a straight fight between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional. Yussibnosh Balo represented Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu while Abdul Jalil Bujang represented Parti Keadilan Rakyat, a component party of Pakatan Rakyat.[5][6] The by-election campaign was marred by allegations that Chief Minister Adenan Satem abused his power when 4 PKR leaders were barred from entering Sarawak during the campaign period.[7]

Yussibnosh Balo retained the very safe BN seat by a majority of 6,911 votes.[8][9]

Results

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Sarawak state by-election, 29 March 2014: Balingian
Upon the resignation of incumbent, Abdul Taib Mahmud
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
BNYussibnosh Balo8,19486.46+ 10.14
PKRAbdul Jail Bujang1,28313.54+ 2.84
Total valid votes 9,477 100.00
Total rejected ballots 146
Unreturned ballots 1
Turnout 9,62472.00
Registered electors 13,366
Majority 6,911
BN hold Swing {{{2}}}

References

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