Published April 28, 2009

BN coalition faces gruelling Penang by-election next month

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(KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia's ruling coalition, humiliated in a string of by- elections losses over the past year, faces a further bruising contest as authorities yesterday announced another vote in May.

The Election Commission said that a by-election would be held in northern Penang state on May 31, for a seat in the state legislature after the resignation of a senior member of the opposition coalition which rules the state.

Penang deputy chief minister Mohamad Fairus Khairuddin quit last month after he was investigated for alleged corruption, saying that his departure would 'allow me the space to clear my name'.

The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which suffered its worst losses in March 2008 general elections that saw the opposition seize five states and a third of parliamentary seats, is considering not contesting the by-election.

'We are not afraid of losing to them but it is a sheer waste of public funds,' Prime Minister Najib Razak said earlier this month.

Political parties must nominate by May 23 their candidates for the vote.

Barisan Nasional has lost five of the six by- elections held since the national polls a year ago, and political analysts said that it appears likely to chalk up another defeat in Penang.

'It will be an uphill battle for Barisan Nasional. The opposition alliance will have no problem in regaining the seat as long as there is no internal sabotage,' said James Chin from Monash University's Kuala Lumpur campus.

He said that in deciding whether to contest the Penang vote, Mr Najib must decide 'whether he wants to face another defeat'.

Mr Najib was dealt a major rebuke within days of being sworn in earlier this month, losing two of three by-elections held on April 7 in a result which the opposition said indicated that voters had rejected the new premier.

The votes were seen as a referendum on Mr Najib and his ambitious agenda to reform the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno) party - which represents majority Muslim Malays - and repair ties with the nation's ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities. -- AFP