1990 Malaysian general election

A general election was held between Saturday, 20 October and Sunday, 21 October 1990 for members of the 8th Parliament of Malaysia. Voting took place in all 180 parliamentary constituencies of Malaysia, each electing one Member of Parliament to the Dewan Rakyat, the dominant house of Parliament.[1] State elections also took place in 351 state constituencies in 11 (out of 13, except Sabah and Sarawak) states of Malaysia on the same day.

1990 Malaysian general election

20 October 1990 (1990-10-20) - 21 October 1990 (1990-10-21)
All 180 seats to the Dewan Rakyat 91 seats needed for a majority
Registered	8,000,000
Turnout	5,751,725 (72.3%)
First party Second party Third party   Leader Mahathir Mohamad Lim Kit Siang Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah Party BN DAP Semangat 46 Leader since 28 June 1981 1 October 1969 1989 Leader's seat Kubang Pasu Tanjong Gua Musang Last election 148 seats, 57.3% 24 seats, 21.1% New Party Seats won 127 20 8 Seat change 21 4 Popular vote 2,985,392 985,228 826,398 Percentage 53.4% 17.1% 14.8% Swing 3.9% 4.0%   Fourth party Fifth party   PAS Leader Fadzil Noor Joseph Pairin Kitingan Party PAS PBS Leader since 1989 5 March 1985 Leader's seat No seat Keningau Last election 1 seat, 15.5% 10 seats (part of Barisan Nasional) Seats won 7 14 Seat change 6 4 Popular vote 391,813 128,260 Percentage 7.0% 2.3% Swing 9.5%
Prime Minister before election Mahathir Mohamad BN Prime Minister-designate Mahathir Mohamad BN

The result was a victory for the Barisan Nasional (BN) at the federal level and 10 of the 11 state elections. The opposition alliance Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (APU) won a landslide victory over BN in the state of Kelantan, winning all 39 state assembly seats. Voter turnout was 72.3%.

Background

The elections marked the first after United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party split and the subsequent constitutional crisis in 1988. The reconstituted UMNO Baru (New UMNO), led by incumbent Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, and the newly formed Parti Melayu Semangat 46 (S46), led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, contested for the first time in the elections.

It also marked the first time in country general election history when a credible, multi-ethnic coalition have been formed the challenge the dominance of Barisan Nasional. This also lead the country political scene from a dominant party system into two party system.[2] The Muslim opposition parties, Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Semangat 46, Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (BERJASA) and Parti Hizbul Muslimin Malaysia (HAMIM) teamed up to form the Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (APU). On the other hand, Semangat 46, Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), which withdrew from the Barisan Nasional (BN) at the eleventh hour of the general election, teamed up as Gagasan Rakyat. However, these two opposition alliances cooperated in the election but not openly due to the sensitivity of the secular DAP and the Islamic PAS working together.

Results

Dewan Rakyat

At the federal level, the BN coalition under the leadership of incumbent Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad won 127 of the 180 parliament seats to form the federal government.

 Summary of the 20 – 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results

Party				Vote		Seats
				Votes	%	Won	%	+/–
	National Front[lower-alpha 1]		BN	2,985,392	53.38	127	70.56	-21
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO			71	39.44	-12
		Malaysian Chinese Association	MCA			18	10.00	+1
		United Traditional Bumiputera Party	PBB	101,243		10	5.56	+2
		Malaysian Indian Congress	MIC			6	3.33	0
		United Sabah National Organisation	USNO			6	3.33	+1
		Malaysian People's Movement Party	Gerakan			5	2.78	0
		Sarawak Native People's Party	PBDS	22,590		4	2.22	-1
		Sarawak United People's Party	SUPP	102,687		4	2.22	0
		Sarawak National Party	SNAP	35,754		3	1.67	-1
		People's Progressive Party	PPP			0	0.00	0
	Parties in the informal coalition, Muslims Unity Movement		APU	1,218,211	21.78	15	8.33	New
	Parties in the informal coalition, People's Concept		GR	1,113,488	19.91	34	18.89	New
	Democratic Action Party[lower-alpha 2]		DAP	985,228	17.61	20	11.11	-4
	Semangat 46[lower-alpha 3]		S46	826,398	14.77	8	4.44	New
	Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party[lower-alpha 3]		PAS	391,813	7.01	7	3.89	+6
	United Sabah Party[lower-alpha 2]		PBS	128,260	2.29	14	7.78	+4
	Malaysian People's Party		PRM			0	0.00	0
	People's Justice Front		AKAR			0	0.00	New
	Sarawak Malaysian People's Association		PERMAS	27,618		0	0.00	New
	Sarawak United Labour Party		PLUS	162		0	0.00	0
	Independents and other parties			276,136	4.94	4	2.22	0
Valid votes				5,593,227
Invalid/blank votes				158,498
Total (turnout: 72.3%)				5,751,725	100.00	180	100.00	+3
Did not vote				2,248,275
Registered voters				8,000,000
Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)				8,882,000
Malaysian population				17,764,000
Source: Nohlen et al.

1. Contested using dacing election symbol on the ballot papers.
2. Parties in the informal coalition, People's Concept (Gagasan Rakyat). Contested using separate election symbol on the ballot papers.
3. Parties in the informal coalition, Muslims Unity Movement (Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah). Contested using separate election symbol on the ballot papers.

Results by state

Summary of the 20 – 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results by state

Summary of the 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Perlis Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– National Front[lower-alpha 1] BN 2 47,767 65.45 2 100.00 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 2 47,767 65.45 2 100.00 0 Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS 1 13,154 18.02 0 0.00 0 Semangat 46 S46 1 12,056 16.52 0 0.00 New Valid votes 72,977 Invalid/blank votes 2,544 Total votes (voter turnout: 76.21%) 75,521 100.00 2 100.00 0 Did not vote 23,570 Registered voters 99,091 Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Perlis's population   Source: Contested using dacing election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Kedah Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– National Front[lower-alpha 1] BN 14 300,705 62.32 14 100.00 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 12 258,834 53.64 12 85.71 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 2 41,871 8.68 2 14.29 0 Semangat 46 S46 8 99,007 20.52 0 0.00 New Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS 6 76,936 15.94 0 0.00 0 Democratic Action Party DAP 1 5,360 1.11 0 0.00 0 Independents IND 1 537 0.11 0 0.00 0 Valid votes 482,545 Invalid/blank votes 14,838 Total votes (voter turnout: %) 497,383 100.00 14 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Kedah's population   Source: Contested using dacing election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Kelantan Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Semangat 46 S46 7 140,284 34.19 7 53.85 New National Front[lower-alpha 1] BN 13 134,273 32.73 0 0.00 -12 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 13 134,273 32.73 0 0.00 -12 Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS 6 133,251 32.48 6 46.15 +5 Independents IND 7 2,463 0.60 0 0.00 0 Valid votes 410,271 Invalid/blank votes 10,228 Total votes (voter turnout: %) 420,499 100.00 13 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Kelantan's population   Source: Contested using dacing election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Terengganu Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– National Front[lower-alpha 1] BN 8 141,855 54.14 6 75.00 -2 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 8 141,855 54.14 6 75.00 -2 Semangat 46 S46 4 62,006 23.66 1 12.50 New Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS 4 57,593 21.98 1 12.50 +1 Independents IND 2 566 0.22 0 0.00 0 Valid votes 262,020 Invalid/blank votes 7,068 Total votes (voter turnout: 82.44%) 269,088 100.00 8 100.00 0 Did not vote 57,328 Registered voters 326,416 Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Terengganu's population   Source: Contested using dacing election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Penang Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– National Front[lower-alpha 1] BN 11 213,532 51.00 5 45.45 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 4 85,315 20.38 4 36.36 0 Malaysian People's Movement Party Gerakan 4 64,485 15.40 1 9.09 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 3 63,732 15.22 0 0.00 0 Democratic Action Party DAP 7 170,053 40.61 6 54.55 0 Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS 2 14,322 3.42 0 0.00 0 Malaysian People's Party PRM 1 13,620 3.25 0 0.00 0 Semangat 46 S46 1 7,174 1.71 0 0.00 New Valid votes 418,701 Invalid/blank votes 9,371 Total votes (voter turnout: 73.75%) 428,072 100.00 11 100.00 0 Did not vote 152,336 Registered voters 580,408 Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Penang's population   Source: Contested using dacing election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Perak Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– National Front[lower-alpha 1] BN 23 19 82.61 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 11 47.83 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 3 13.04 0 Malaysian People's Movement Party Gerakan 3 13.04 0 Malaysian Indian Congress MIC 2 8.70 0 Democratic Action Party DAP 4 17.39 0 Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS 0 0.00 0 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 23 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Perak's population   Source: Contested using dacing election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Pahang Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– National Front[lower-alpha 1] BN 10 10 100.00 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 7 7 70.00 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 3 3 30.00 0 Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS 0 0.00 0 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 10 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Pahang's population   Source: Contested using dacing election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Selangor Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– National Front[lower-alpha 1] BN 14 11 78.57 -1 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 7 7 50.00 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 5 2 14.29 -1 Malaysian Indian Congress MIC 2 2 14.29 0 Democratic Action Party DAP 3 21.43 +1 Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS 0 0.00 0 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 14 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Selangor's population   Source: Contested using dacing election symbol on the ballot papers. Template:Malaysian general election, 1990 (Kuala Lumpur)  Summary of the 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Negeri Sembilan Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– National Front[lower-alpha 1] BN 7 7 100.00 +2 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 4 4 57.14 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 2 2 28.57 +2 Malaysian Indian Congress MIC 1 1 14.29 0 Democratic Action Party DAP 0 0.00 -2 Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS 0 0.00 0 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 7 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Negeri Sembilan's population   Source: Contested using dacing election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Malacca Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– National Front[lower-alpha 1] BN 5 4 80.00 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 3 3 60.00 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 2 1 20.00 0 Democratic Action Party DAP 1 20.00 0 Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS 0 0.00 0 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 5 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Malacca's population   Source: Contested using dacing election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Johor Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– National Front[lower-alpha 1] BN 18 18 100.00 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 12 12 66.67 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 5 5 27.78 0 Malaysian Indian Congress MIC 1 1 5.56 0 Democratic Action Party DAP 0 0.00 0 Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS 0 0.00 0 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 18 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Johor's population   Source: Contested using dacing election symbol on the ballot papers. Template:Malaysian general election, 1990 (Labuan)  Summary of the 20 – 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Sabah Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– United Sabah Party PBS 14 70.00 +7 National Front[lower-alpha 1] BN 20 6 30.00 -2 United Sabah National Organisation USNO 6 30.00 -2 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 20 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Sabah's population   Source: Contested using dacing election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 20 – 21 October 1990 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Sarawak Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– National Front[lower-alpha 1] BN 27 262,274 57.09 21 77.78 0 Sarawak United People's Party SUPP 8 102,687 22.35 4 14.81 0 United Traditional Bumiputera Party PBB 10 101,243 22.04 10 37.04 +2 Sarawak National Party SNAP 5 35,754 7.78 3 11.11 -1 Sarawak Native People's Party PBDS 4 22,590 4.92 4 14.81 -1 Democratic Action Party DAP 8 87,017 18.94 2 7.41 +1 Sarawak Malaysian People's Association PERMAS 9 27,618 6.01 0 0.00 0 Sarawak United Labour Party PLUS 1 162 0.04 0 0.00 0 Independents IND 25 82,327 17.92 4 14.81 +2 Valid votes 459,398 Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 27 100.00 +3 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Sarawak's population   Source: Contested using dacing election symbol on the ballot papers.

State Assemblies

Main article: 1990 Malaysian state elections

At the state level, the BN won 10 out of the 11 state elections. The APU won all 39 state seats in Kelantan to form the state government, with 24 seats going to PAS and 15 for Semangat 46.[3]

References

1. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p152 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
2. Khong, (1991) Malaysia's General Election 1990: Continuity, Change, and Ethnic Politics, p1 ISBN 981-3035-77-3
3. Francis Kok-Wah Loh; Francis Loh Kok Wah; Boo Teik Khoo; Khoo Boo Teik (2002). Democracy in Malaysia: Discourses and Practices. Routledge. p. 95. ISBN 0-7007-1161-9.

• Arah Aliran Malaysia: Penilaian Pilihan Raya satu himpunan kerta kertas 62-halaman daripada Institut Penyelidikan Asia Tenggara selepas pilihan raya 1999.