1969 Malaysian general election

A general election was held on Saturday, 10 May 1969 for members of the 3rd Parliament of Malaysia, although voting was postponed until between 6 June and 4 July 1970 in Sabah and Sarawak.[1] This election marked the first parliamentary election held in Sabah and Sarawak after the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

1969 Malaysian general election

10 May 1969 – 4 July 1970
All 144 seats to the Dewan Rakyat 73 seats needed for a majority
Registered	3,450,000
Turnout	2,532,042 (73.6%)
DAP Leader Tunku Abdul Rahman Burhanuddin al-Helmy Goh Hock Guan Party Alliance PAS DAP Leader since 23 August 1951 1956 30 July 1967 Leader's seat Kuala Kedah No seat Bangsar Last election 89 seats, 58.5% 9 seats, 14.6% 1 seat, 2.0% Seats won 74 12 13 Seat change 15 3 12 Popular vote 1,063,238 495,641 286,606 Percentage 44.3% 20.9% 12.1% Swing 14.2% 6.3% 10.1%   Gerakan PPP SUPP Leader Syed Hussein Alatas S. P. Seenivasagam Party Gerakan People's Progressive Party Sarawak United People's Party Leader since 1968 1969 Leader's seat No seat Menglembu Last election New Party 2 seats, 3.4% New Party Seats won 8 4 5 Seat change 2 Popular vote 178,971 80,756 71,293 Percentage 7.5% 3.4% 3.0%   SNAP USNO PESAKA Party SNAP United Sabah National Organisation Parti Pesaka Sarawak Last election New Party New Party New Party Seats won 9 13 2 Popular vote 64,593 31,947 30,765 Percentage 2.7% 1.3% 1.3%
Prime Minister before election Tunku Abdul Rahman Alliance Prime Minister-designate Tunku Abdul Rahman Alliance

The election resulted in the return to power, with a reduced majority, of the ruling Alliance Party, comprising the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the Malayan Chinese Association, and the Malayan Indian Congress. The Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) and the Democratic Action Party (DAP), which had campaigned against Bumiputra privileges outlined by Article 153 of the Constitution, made major gains in the election.[2] Voter turnout was 73.6%. Opposition won 54 seats in total causing the Alliance to lose its two-thirds majority in the Parliament (two-thirds majority being the majority required to pass most constitutional amendments) for the first time.

This election also saw Alliance lose its majority in Perak, Selangor and Penang in addition to Kelantan. The result of the election and subsequent reactions would cause widespread race riots also known as the 13 May Incident. As a consequence of this incident, the federal government decided to suspend parliament and government administration was monitored by MAGERAN until 1971.[3] It also marked the end of Tunku Abdul Rahman's administration as Prime Minister before he was succeeded by Tun Abdul Razak several months later. Razak would then seek the main purpose to establish the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.[4]

State elections also took place in 330 state constituencies in 12 (out of 13, except Sabah) states of Malaysia on the same day.

Results

Dewan Rakyat

 Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results (excluding Malacca Selatan and federal constituencies in Sabah and Sarawak)

Party				Vote		Seats
				Votes	%	Won	%	+/–
	Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1]		Alliance			66	45.83	-23
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO			51	35.42	-8
		Malaysian Chinese Association	MCA			13	9.03	-14
		Malaysian Indian Congress	MIC			2	1.39	-1
	Pan-Malayan Islamic Party		PMIP	495,641		12	8.33	+3
	Democratic Action Party		DAP	286,606		13	9.03	+12
	Malaysian People's Movement Party		Gerakan	178,971		8	5.56	New
	People's Progressive Party		PPP	80,756		4	2.78	+2
	Parti Ra'ayat		Ra'ayat	25,785		0	0.00	0
	Independents		IND			0	0.00	0
The election for another 41 federal constituencies were postponed.
Valid votes
Invalid/blank votes
Total (turnout: %)					100.00	103	100.00
Did not vote
Registered voters
Source: Nohlen et al. , ,, , , , , , , , , ,

 Summary of the 10 May 1969 - 4 July 1970 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results (including Malacca Selatan and federal constituencies in Sabah and Sarawak)

Party				Vote		Seats
				Votes	%	Won	%	+/–
	Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1]		Alliance	1,063,238	44.34	74	51.39	-15
		United Malays National Organisation	UMNO			52	36.11	-7
		Malaysian Chinese Association	MCA			13	9.03	-14
		Parti Bumiputera Sarawak	BUMIPUTERA			5	3.47	New
		Malaysian Indian Congress	MIC			2	1.39	-1
		Sarawak Chinese Association	SCA			2	1.39	New
	Pan-Malayan Islamic Party		PMIP	495,641	20.67	12	8.33	+3
	Democratic Action Party		DAP	286,606	11.95	13	9.03	+12
	Malaysian People's Movement Party		Gerakan	178,971	7.46	8	5.56	New
	People's Progressive Party		PPP	80,756	3.37	4	2.78	+2
	Sarawak United People's Party		SUPP	71,293	2.97	5	3.47	New
	Sarawak National Party		SNAP	64,593	2.69	9	6.25	New
	United Sabah National Organisation		USNO	31,947	1.33	13	9.03	New
	Parti Pesaka Sarawak		PESAKA	30,765	1.28	2	1.39	New
	Parti Ra'ayat		Ra'ayat	25,785	1.08	0	0.00	0
	Sabah Chinese Association		SCA	24,699	1.03	3	2.08	New
	United Malaysian Chinese Organisation		UMCO	1,808	0.08	0	0.00	New
	Independents		IND	41,710	1.74	1	0.69	+1
Valid votes				2,397,812
Invalid/blank votes				134,230
Total (turnout: 73.6%)				2,532,042	100.00	144	100.00	+40
Did not vote				917,958
Registered voters				3,450,000
Source: Nohlen et al. , ,, , , , , , , , , ,

1. Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.

Candidates were returned unopposed in 19 constituencies. Election in one constituency postponed.

West Malaysia went to the polls on 10 May, while Sabah was scheduled to vote on 25 May and Sarawak on 7 June. The Alliance won 10 seats in Sabah on nomination day being unopposed in some constituencies, so after the West Malaysian elections they were assured of a clear majority of 76 out of a total of 144 parliamentary seats. Tun Mustapha Datu Harun's United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) won 10 out of 16 seats unopposed for the Alliance on nomination day.

The opposition parties' gain at state level was more shocking to the Alliance Party which not only continued to lose to PAS in Kelantan, but also to political infant Gerakan in Penang. No party commanded an absolute majority in two other states. The Alliance held only 14 out of 24 seats in Selangor and 19 out of 40 in Perak.[2]

The attrition of Malay support was much higher than that of the non-Malays. Malay opposition parties' vote shares in the peninsula increased drastically from about 15% in 1964 to 25% in 1969 while the support for non-Malay opposition parties remained roughly the same at 26% in both elections. Thanks to the electoral system, however, PAS seats increased from nine to 12 seats only while non-Malay opposition party, DAP, from 1 to 13.

Results by state

Summary of the 10 May 1969 - 4 July 1970 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results by state

Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Perlis Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 2 22,195 51.15 2 100.00 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 2 22,195 51.15 2 100.00 0 Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 2 18,286 42.14 0 0.00 0 Parti Ra'ayat Ra'ayat 1 2,910 6.71 0 0.00 New Valid votes 43,391 Invalid/blank votes 1,591 Total votes (voter turnout: 80.24%) 44,982 100.00 2 100.00 0 Did not vote 11,078 Registered voters 56,060 Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Perlis's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Kedah Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 12 53.4 9 75.00 -3 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 10 7 58.33 -3 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 2 2 16.67 0 Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 12 41.1 3 25.00 +3 Malaysian People's Movement Party Gerakan 2 5.5 0 0.00 New Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 12 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Kedah's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Kelantan Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 10 52.4 6 60.00 -2 Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 10 47.5 4 40.00 +2 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 10 47.5 4 40.00 +2 Independents IND 1 0.1 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)   Kelantan's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Trengganu Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 6 50.0 4 66.67 -1 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 6 50.0 4 66.67 -1 Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 6 50.0 2 33.33 +1 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 6 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Trengganu's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Penang Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Malaysian People's Movement Party Gerakan 5 83,670 44.55 5 62.50 New Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 8 69,215 36.86 2 25.00 -4 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 4 45,705 24.34 1 12.50 -3 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 4 23,510 12.52 1 12.50 -1 Democratic Action Party DAP 1 20,930 11.14 1 12.50 New Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 2 13,211 7.03 0 0.00 0 People's Progressive Party PPP 1 775 0.41 0 0.00 0 Valid votes 187,801 Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 8 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Penang's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Perak Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 20 43.2 9 45.00 -9 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 7 35.00 -2 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 1 5.00 -7 Malaysian Indian Congress MIC 1 5.00 0 Democratic Action Party DAP 16.1 5 25.00 New People's Progressive Party PPP 18.8 4 20.00 +2 Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 17.9 1 5.00 +1 Malaysian People's Movement Party Gerakan 3.7 1 5.00 New Independents IND 0.4 0 0.00 0 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)   Perak's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Pahang Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 6 21,004 60.8 6 100.00 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 5 5 83.33 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 1 1 16.67 0 Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 24.4 0 0.00 0 Malaysian People's Socialist Party PSRM 2 11,764 14.7 0 0.00 0 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 6 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Pahang's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Selangor Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 14 43.8 9 64.29 -3 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 6 42.86 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 2 14.29 -3 Malaysian Indian Congress MIC 1 7.14 0 Democratic Action Party DAP 31.4 3 21.43 New Malaysian People's Movement Party Gerakan 17.5 2 14.29 New Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 7.3 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 kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Negri Sembilan Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 6 46.4 3 50.00 -3 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 3 3 50.00 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 2 0 0.00 -2 Malaysian Indian Congress MIC 1 0 0.00 -1 Democratic Action Party DAP 35.5 3 50.00 New Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 16.3 0 0.00 0 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 6 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Negri Sembilan's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Malacca Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 4 45.2 3 75.00 -1 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 2 2 50.00 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 2 1 25.00 -1 Democratic Action Party DAP 22.8 1 25.00 New Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 18.4 0 0.00 0 Parti Ra'ayat Ra'ayat 13.6 0 0.00 New Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 4 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Malacca's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Johore Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % +/– Alliance Party[lower-alpha 1] Alliance 16 67.6 16 100.00 0 United Malays National Organisation UMNO 11 11 68.75 0 Malaysian Chinese Association MCA 5 5 31.25 0 Democratic Action Party DAP 22.8 0 0.00 New Malaysian People's Movement Party Gerakan 4.2 0 0.00 New Pan-Malayan Islamic Party PMIP 4.0 0 0.00 0 Independents IND 2.7 0 0.00 0 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 16 100.00 0 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Johore's population   Source: Contested using kapal layar election symbol on the ballot papers.  Summary of the 10 May 1969 - 27 June 1970 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Sabah Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % United Sabah National Organisation USNO 13 13 81.25 Sabah Chinese Association SCA 3 3 18.75 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 16 100.00 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Sabah's population   Source:  Summary of the 10 May 1969 – 4 July 1970 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Sarawak Party Candidates Vote Seats Votes % Won % Sarawak National Party SNAP 23 9 37.50 Parti Bumiputera Sarawak BUMIPUTERA 5 20.83 Sarawak United People's Party SUPP 19 5 20.83 Parti Pesaka Sarawak PESAKA 15 2 8.33 Sarawak Chinese Association SCA 2 8.33 Independents IND 1 4.17 Valid votes Invalid/blank votes Total votes (voter turnout: %)   100.00 24 100.00 Did not vote Registered voters   Voting age population (aged 21 years and above)   Sarawak's population   Source:

State Assemblies

Aftermath

Gerakan and DAP held a victory rally in Kuala Lumpur on 12 May, but the rally turned rowdy, with party members shouting racial epithets at Malay bystanders.[5] UMNO retaliated with its own rally on 13 May, which soon broke out into full-scale rioting, which subsequently became known as the 13 May Incident.[5]

References

1. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p152 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
2. Report on the parliamentary (Dewan Rakyat) and state legislative assembly general elections 1969 of the states of Malaya, Sabah, and Sarawak Archived 4 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine Election Commission of Malaysia
3. https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/476322
4. http://www.world-guides.com/asia/malaysia/federal-territory/kuala-lumpur/kuala_lumpur_history.html
5. Zainon Ahmad (26 July 2007). "The tragedy of May 13, 1969 (part 2)". The Sun. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.