THE May 9, 2018, general election has greatly impacted Malaysia’s political landscape, up until now.

Since that day, Malaysians have witnessed many unexpected turns of events, including the calls for several by-elections and state elections to be held for various reasons.

During the latest parliamentary term, a total of 12 by-elections were held, four of which in 2018, five in 2019, and three in 2020.

Three by-elections – in Batu Sapi and Bugaya in Sabah and Gerik in Perak – were not held after the king promulgated the proclamations of emergency to curb the spread of Covid-19. 

However, on October 6 this year, His Majesty consented to revoke six ordinances and proclamations of emergency that prevented the three by-elections from being held.

Over the past four years, the first of the by-elections was held only three months after the 2018 general election took place, which was for the Sungai Kandis state seat in Selangor on August 4, 2018, which saw Pakatan Harapan (PH) retain the seat. 

The other three by-elections that took place in the same year were for the Balakong and Seri Setia state seats in Selangor on September 8, and for the Port Dickson parliamentary seat on October 13. All seats were won by PH. 

In 2019, the first by-election was held on January 26 in the Cameron Highlands parliamentary constituency, where Barisan Nasional (BN) retained the seat. The coalition also won the Semenyih state seat in Selangor when the by-election was held on March 2. 

On April 13, 2019, BN contested and retained the Rantau state seat in Negeri Sembilan and on May 11 the same year, PH won the by-election for the Sandakan parliamentary seat in Sabah. 

At the end of 2019, a by-election was held for the Tanjung Piai parliamentary seat in Johor on November 16, which saw BN sweep a huge victory. 

In 2020, the by-election for the Kimanis parliamentary seat in Sabah was held on January 18, which saw BN clinch another victory. It also retained the Chini state seat in Pahang when the by-election was held on July 4.

The last by-election was held for the Slim state seat in Perak on August 29, 2020, which BN once again retained. 

Four state elections were held during the 14th parliamentary term – in Sabah, Malacca, Sarawak, and Johor. 

In the Sabah elections on September 26, 2020, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) obtained a simple majority to take over leadership of the state government from Warisan. 

GRS, which comprises Perikatan Nasional (PN) and BN, as well as its affiliate Parti Bersatu Sabah, won 38 out of the 73 seats in the assembly.

On November 20, 2021, the Malacca elections was held and BN secured 21 of the 28 seats contested, while PH took five and PN, two. 

The polls were called following the dissolution of the Malacca assembly on October 4 of the same year after four assemblymen withdrew their support for Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali.

Less than a month after that, the Sarawak elections was also held on December 18, 2021, and Gabungan Parti Sarawak led by Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg won 76 seats out of the 82 up for grabs.

A total of 349 candidates contested in the polls, the biggest turnout in the state’s election history.

In 2022, the Johor elections were held on March 12, with BN winning a two-thirds’ majority, capturing 40 of the 56 seats contested.

PH won 11 seats, PN won three, and PKR and Muda won one each. – Bernama, October 10, 2022.