1969 Malaysian general election

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%)
First party Second party Third party   File:Burhanuddin al-Helmy.jpg Leader Tunku Abdul Rahman Burhanuddin al-Helmy Goh Hock Guan Party UMNO PAS DAP Alliance Alliance – – 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%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   File:Syed Hussein al-Attas.jpg File:SP Seenivasagam.jpeg SUPP Leader Syed Hussein Alatas S. P. Seenivasagam Ong Kee Hui Party Gerakan PPP SUPP Alliance – – – Leader since 1968 1969 1959 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%   Seventh party Eighth party Ninth party   File:Jugah Barieng.jpg Leader Stephen Kalong Ningkan Mustapha Harun Jugah Barieng Party SNAP USNO Pesaka Alliance – – – 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

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. This election marked the first parliamentary election held in Sabah and Sarawak after the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

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. 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. 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.

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		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. [1] Archived 4 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine, [2],[3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13]

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		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. [14] Archived 4 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine, [15],[16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26]

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.

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

Johore

Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Johore

Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
					Votes	%	Won	%	+/–
	Alliance Party		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:

Kedah

Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Kedah

Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
					Votes	%	Won	%	+/–
	Alliance Party		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:

Kelantan

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		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:

Malacca

Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Malacca

Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
					Votes	%	Won	%	+/–
	Alliance Party		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:

Negri Sembilan

Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Negri Sembilan

Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
					Votes	%	Won	%	+/–
	Alliance Party		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:

Pahang

Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Pahang

Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
					Votes	%	Won	%	+/–
	Alliance Party		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:

Penang

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		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:

Perak

Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Perak

Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
					Votes	%	Won	%	+/–
	Alliance Party		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:

Perlis

Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Perlis

Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
					Votes	%	Won	%	+/–
	Alliance Party		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:

Sabah

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:

Sarawak

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:

Selangor

Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Selangor

Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
					Votes	%	Won	%	+/–
	Alliance Party		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:

Trengganu

Summary of the 10 May 1969 Malaysian Dewan Rakyat election results in Trengganu

Party				Candidates	Vote		Seats
					Votes	%	Won	%	+/–
	Alliance Party		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:

State Assemblies

Main article: 1969 Malaysian state elections

Aftermath

Gerakan and DAP held a victory rally in Kuala Lumpur on 12 May, The rally soon turned rowdy, as party members and Malay bystanders started to shout racial epithets at each other. 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.