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| Sulaiman in blue baju Melayu |
Malaysia Chronicle
Sulaiman Taha, the state assemblyman for Tenang, Johor, has died after having been ill for nearly a month, triggering a by-election that will surely be the bellwether for the snap general elections that are widely expected to be held early next year.
Tenang is part of the Labis parliamentary constituency, the stronghold of MCA president Chua Soi Lek and which is now held by his son Chua Tee Yong after he was sidelined in the 2008 general election due to his sex scandal.
Tenang is also a mixed rural seat with Malays voters forming 49.66 percent of the electorate, Chinese 38.13 percent, Indians 12.11 percent and others 0.10 percent.
In 2008, the 59-year old Sulaiman beat his PAS opponent Mohd Saim Siran by a 2,492-vote majority, down from 5,517 in 2004. The electorate size in the 2008 election was 14,511.
Nevertheless, despite the reducing margin, Pakatan Rakyat leaders were cautious about their chances. "We will have to work hard," PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.
Sulaiman fell ill soon after the Johor Sultan's birthday last month. He was hospitalised at the Segamat Hospital before being transferred to the Ampang Puteri Hospital in Kuala Lumpur for diabetes and high blood pressure. Sulaiman was also the Umno Labis division chief.
The Election Commission has to call for a by-election within the next two months and Pakatan is expected to field a candidate from PAS. BN is also expected to maintain the status-quo and field an Umno candidate.
Sulaiman Taha, the state assemblyman for Tenang, Johor, has died after having been ill for nearly a month, triggering a by-election that will surely be the bellwether for the snap general elections that are widely expected to be held early next year.
Tenang is part of the Labis parliamentary constituency, the stronghold of MCA president Chua Soi Lek and which is now held by his son Chua Tee Yong after he was sidelined in the 2008 general election due to his sex scandal.
Tenang is also a mixed rural seat with Malays voters forming 49.66 percent of the electorate, Chinese 38.13 percent, Indians 12.11 percent and others 0.10 percent.
In 2008, the 59-year old Sulaiman beat his PAS opponent Mohd Saim Siran by a 2,492-vote majority, down from 5,517 in 2004. The electorate size in the 2008 election was 14,511.
Nevertheless, despite the reducing margin, Pakatan Rakyat leaders were cautious about their chances. "We will have to work hard," PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.
Sulaiman fell ill soon after the Johor Sultan's birthday last month. He was hospitalised at the Segamat Hospital before being transferred to the Ampang Puteri Hospital in Kuala Lumpur for diabetes and high blood pressure. Sulaiman was also the Umno Labis division chief.
The Election Commission has to call for a by-election within the next two months and Pakatan is expected to field a candidate from PAS. BN is also expected to maintain the status-quo and field an Umno candidate.
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