BN wins both Batu Sapi, Galas

Polling: 8am to 5pm
Vote count: 5pm onwards
Results: By 8pm
Photo galleries: Batu Sapi l Galas

 

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10.55pm: Quick analysis by political analyst Wong Chin Huat:

Batu Sapi is basically a replay of 2008. Its only significance has become a qualifying match for the opposition parties. PKR and Pakatan have made the right bet. This is bad news for any "third force".

On the other hand, Galas is a real alarm for PAS and Pakatan. BN increases its votes in every area. Is this trend local, rural or national covering even the urban areas?

Because of Galas and Batu Sapi, be prepared for early elections. 

10.45pm: PAS campaign advisor  says the biggest factor in the Galas loss is the 8 percent drop in Malay support.

Despite their expectation of a drop of 7 percent in Malay votes as in the Manek Urai by-election, the 8 percent is still crucial for PAS, he says.

"Malays comprise 60 percent of the population here, so an 8 percent drop, that's really huge," says the Kota Baru MP.

Wan Abdul Rahim adds that they saw a 13 percent drop in Orang Asli votes and 2 percent drop in Chinese votes.

The dip in Orang Asli votes, he says, is unexpected and he blames the BN for using the Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli (JHEOA) to fish that community’s votes.

"We found it very hard to contact the Orang Asli. They were controlled tightly by BN, not only the voters, but also (the Orang Asli) kids."

9.45pm: “I hope he’s watching me now and he’s proud of me.”

These very words reflected newly-elected Batu Sapi MP Linda Tsen Thau Lin’s resolve to keep the memory of her husband alive in her work.

Tsen, who retained the seat for BN with a 6,359-vote majority that surpassed expectations, believes that by serving the people, she will do justice to the good name of her late husband, Edmund Chong Ket Wah.

She pledges to “work closely with the state and federal governments, in the best interests of the constituents and in the spirit of 1Malaysia”.

8.55pm: PKR’s Ansari Abdullah, who appeared calm, says he is not surprised by his loss as BN had poured in plenty of goodies in the election campaign.

“BN won by bribery and theft. Democracy is dead in Malaysia," says Ansari (far left).

Meanwhile, SAPP president Yong Teck Lee accepts his first electoral defeat in six outings, and vows to continue his ‘Sabah for Sabahans’ struggle.

"Yes, this is my first defeat. But our party values number six as it means ‘resilience’. You fall, and you get up again," says Yong, who appears to be in high spirit despite ending up last in the three-cornered fight.

"You will fight and fight until you win, until you achieve autonomy for Sabah and a better deal for Sabah."

Asked whether SAPP will be joining Pakatan Rakyat, he said the decision should not be rushed.

"If you look at the result, we will not be surprised that DAP, for instance, will not be interested to see us in Pakatan because Pakatan will feel they can do without us. Let it takes its course."

However, Yong rules out the possibility of SAPP rejoining BN.

"We are here to topple BN. We will topple BN eventually. We are not going back to BN. Kalau siapa-siapa masih ragu, let's show them in the coming general election."

Before he leaves the tally centre in Sandakan community hall, the former Sabah chief minister and his supporters shout "SAPP boleh!" three times.

8.38pm: OFFICIAL RESULTS (Batu Sapi)

Linda Tsen (BN-PBS) - 9,773
Yong Teck Lee (SAPP) - 2,031
Ansari Abdullah (PKR) - 3,414
Majority - 6,359

The above results was announced by the Election Commission at the main tally centre in Sandakan community hall.

8.37pm: OFFICIAL RESULTS (Galas)

Dr Zulkefli Mohamad (PAS) - 4,134
Abdul Aziz Yusof (BN-Umno) (photo below) - 5,324
Majority - 1,190

8.31pm: Galas DAP election chief Thomas Su blames the '1Malaysia' group for the swing of Chinese votes to BN. He says that BN has used the group to effectively campaign on MCA's behalf as the party has very little credibility among the Chinese.

According to him, in 2008 PAS won 1,784 votes in the three areas where Chinese voters are prominent - Pulai, Kampung Baru and Bandar Lama.

In this by-election, it won only 1,578 votes, losing a total of 206 votes, or 4.92 percent.

7.50pm: Unofficial results (Batu Sapi)

Linda Tsen (BN-PBS) - 8,538
Yong Teck Lee (SAPP) - 2,007
Ansari Abdullah (PKR) - 3,281
Majority - 5,257

Quick analysis: The result of this by-election reflect that of the 2008 general election. In 2008, Tsen's late husband Edmund Chong bagged 9,479 votes against his opponent, Independent Chong Kwong Ming's 5,771. In this by-election, the combined opposition has 5,288 votes.

7.43pm: Unofficial results (Batu Sapi)

Linda Tsen (BN-PBS) - 5,084
Yong Teck Lee (SAPP) - 1,250
Ansari Abdullah (PKR) - 2,022
Majority - 3,062

Quick analysis: While Linda Tsen's victory is expected, PKR has shown that it can get more votes than SAPP in Batu Sapi. However, even if this was a straight fight, the opposition will still lose.

7.28pm: Batu MP Tian Chua concedes defeat in Galas. "Comrades, let's work harder & be ready for GE13," he says. 

Unofficial results (Galas)

Dr Zulkefli Mohamad (PAS) - 4,108
Abdul Aziz Yusof (BN-Umno) - 5,177
Majority - 1,069

7.25pm: (Galas) At the PAS operation centre, the projector showing the results which was temporary turned on, is now turned off. The rain is getting heavier. Many supporters are leaving disappointed.

7.12pm: (Galas) About 100 supporters have gathered and patiently waiting for the unofficial results at the PAS operations centre. The party had prepared a projector outside to run live updates starting 5.30pm, but it is not activate it.

Instead, three DAP reps are called upon to check the results. The media are kept out of the office. As it starts to drizzle, the supporters look disappointed, and one says, “Tuhan pun menangis.”

7.05pm: (Batu Sapi) Victorious BN candidate Linda Tsen arrives at the Sabah chief minister's guesthouse. She is greeted with a rousing and thunderous applause from the crowd.

There is a big screen TV showing the results from the polling stations. Each time BN wins, the crowd roars noisily. Chief Minister Musa Aman has a meal before going to main tally centre in the Sandakan community hall for the final count.

BN leaders are congregating at Musa’s guesthouse, and the mood is cautiously jubilant.

Meanwhile, at the PKR operations centre has about 20 party workers looking downcast because of the poor showing, with no party leaders in sight.

7.03pm: Unofficial results (Galas)

Dr Zulkefli Mohamad (PAS) - 2,348
Abdul Aziz Yusof (BN-Umno) - 3,258
Majority - 910

Quick analysis: BN appears to win back Chinese votes which they had lost in the 2008 general election.

For example, PAS lost in Kampung Baru by 41 votes, a Chinese-majority area which they won with 200-plus votes in 2008.

PAS initially aimed to win Kampung Baru with a bigger majority so that they can cover an expected defeat in Pulai, another Chinese-majority area.

Galas has two Chinese-majority areas, in which Pulai is considered a BN stronghold. PAS lost by 25 votes in Pulai in 2008.

7.01pm: Unofficial results (Galas)

Dr Zulkefli Mohamad (PAS) - 2,270
Abdul Aziz Yusof (BN-Umno) - 2,834
Majority - 564

7pm: Unofficial results (Batu Sapi)

Linda Tsen (BN-PBS) - 5,051
Yong Teck Lee (SAPP) - 1,018
Ansari Abdullah (PKR) - 1,709
Majority - 3,342

It is almost certain that Linda Tsen from BN-PBS has won the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat.

6.55pm: PKR's Batu Sapi candidate Ansari Abdullah arrives at the counting centre at the Sandakan community hall with a small entourage.

SAPP president and candidate Yong Teck Lee for this contest arrive a few minutes later, ahead of a batch of EC officials bringing the ballot boxes from the 12 polling stations in Batu Sapi.

BN candidate Linda Tsen Thau Lin on the other hand has gone to Chief Minister Musa Aman's residence at Sri Libaran to join Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin as they wait for the results to be announced.

6.52pm: Unofficial results (Galas)

Postal votes

Dr Zulkefli Mohamad (PAS) - 46
Abdul Aziz Yusof (BN-Umno) - 107
Majority - 61

6.51pm: Unofficial results (Galas)

Dr Zulkefli Mohamad (PAS) - 1,158
Abdul Aziz Yusof (BN-Umno) - 1,254
Majority - 96

6.48pm: Unofficial results (Galas)

Dr Zulkefli Mohamad (PAS) - 982
Abdul Aziz Yusof (BN-Umno) - 1,035
Majority - 53

6.44pm: Unofficial results (Batu Sapi)

Linda Tsen (BN-PBS) - 3,226
Yong Teck Lee (SAPP) - 814
Ansari Abdullah (PKR) - 1,269
Spoilt votes - 420
Majority -1,957

6.40pm: Unofficial results (Batu Sapi)

Linda Tsen (BN-PBS) - 2,614
Yong Teck Lee (SAPP) - 622
Ansari Abdullah (PKR) - 931
Spoilt votes - 410
Majority -1,683

6.39pm: Unofficial results (Galas)

Bdr Lama:

Dr Zulkefli Mohamad (PAS) - 584
Abdul Aziz Yusof (BN-Umno) - 624
Majority - 40

6.34pm: Unofficial results (Batu Sapi)

Linda Tsen (BN-PBS) - 1,496
Yong Teck Lee (SAPP) - 422
Ansari Abdullah (PKR) - 752
Spoilt votes - 394
Majority - 740

6.21pm: Unofficial results (Batu Sapi)

Tally from the first two saluran:

Linda Tsen (BN-PBS) - 266
Yong Teck Lee (SAPP) - 94
Ansari Abdullah (PKR) - 177
Majority - 89

6.15pm: The Galas state by-election registered a higher voter turnout than in the 2008 general election - 82.71 percent
compared to 81 percent, says the Election Commission.

6pm: (Galas) EC deputy chair Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said that the Galas by-election official results are expected before 8pm tonight.

Speaking at a press conference at the Gua Musang Civic Hall, he ventures that the voter turnout could be as high as 82%. He is basing this on the current figure of 78% that excludes the total from four Orang Asli ballot boxes, that are expected to arrive at around 6.30.

5.45pm: (Batu Sapi) The Election Commission announces that the voters turnout for this parliamentary seat is 61.47 percent, or 15,774 voters.

This is slightly higher that the turnout in the 2008 general election which was 61.45 percent.

5.28pm: Unofficial results (Batu Sapi)

Tronglit (Muslim bumiputera majority polling station), which ended polling at 3pm:

Saluran 1:
Linda Tsen (BN-PBS) - 153
Yong Teck Lee (SAPP) - 14
Ansari Abdullah (PKR) - 4

5.25pm: (Galas) The EC announces that the voters turnout is 77.73 percent or 8,980 voters. This does not include the turnout in three Orang Asli areas - Pos Belatim, Pos Balar and Pos Bihar.

5.15pm: (Batu Sapi) It appears that the Batu Sapi by-election has failed to spark much excitement among the 25,000-odd voters in this vast parliamentary constituency today.

Unlike the major altercations that happened in Galas, Kelantan which is holding a concurrent by-election, the situation in Batu Sapi is laid back, save for patches of traffic jams along its main thoroughfare, Jalan Batu Sapi.

Being a working day, the voter turnout is at a low 60 percent.

The situation was also not helped by sporadic rain hitting parts of Batu Sapi, as storm clouds loom in the distance with the constant threat of a downpour.

The response is so sluggish that it became a point of concern for Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who pointed out that in most cases, the voters turnout would normally hit past 50 percent by 2pm.

He however avoided giving any indication of how it will effect the outcome of the by-election.

"We pray to God, that after nearly 10 days of campaigning, we hope the result will be in our favour... We will have to just wait till 8pm," he said, referring to the estimated time the results will be out.

On the other hand, the voters’s response in Galas is a little more enthusiastic, with a turnout of close to 80 percent.

However, allegations of vote-buying and violence where an Umno Puteri member had to seek treatment in Gua Musang hospital have marred the by-election in this keenly-fought state seat.