Hung state assembly in Perak
IPOH, May 9 (Bernama) --Perak has been left with a hung state assembly after the announcement of results for all 59 state seat contests.
This is the first time no party has achieved a simple majority of 30 seats to form the state government.
Pakatan Harapan (PH), comprising PKR, DAP, PPBM, and Amanah, won 29 seats, while Barisan Nasional (BN) got 27 seats and PAS, three.
At a press conference, Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Tan Sri Othman Mahmood said the formation of the Perak state government must be determined by parties involved.
PH, which used the PKR logo, won the state seats of Jelapang, Pasir Bedamar, Pasir Pinji, Menglembu, Tebing Tinggi, Titi Serong, Kuala Kurau, Canning, Kamunting, Aulong, Tronoh, Pantai Remis, Astaka, Jalong, Pokok Asam, Pasir Panjang, Sungkai, Behrang, Chenderiang, Buntong, Bercham, Kepayang, Manjoi, Hulu Kinta, Malim Mawar, Keranji, Sungai Rapat, Simpang Pulai and Teja.
BN won in Rungkup, Bota, Hutan Melintang, Belanja, Sungai Manik, Kampung Gajah, Changkat Jong, Kota Tampan, Kenering, Batu Kurau, Chenderoh, Lubok Merbau, Alor Ponsu, Selinsing, Pangkalan Baharu, Lintang, Temengor, Pangkalan Hulu, Bukit Chandan, Manong, Pangkor, Slim, Ayer Kuning, Trong, Tualang Sekah, Changkat Jong and Kuala Sepetang, while PAS won in Gunong Semanggol, Selama and Kubu Gajah.
Perak BN chairman Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir defended the Pangkor state seat with 8,378 votes, defeating PKR candidate Nordin Ahmad Ismail (6,752 votes) and PAS candidate Zainal Abidin Saad (3,638).
However, Zambry lost the Lumut parliamentary seat to PKR candidate Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli by 400 votes.
There were also shock defeats for three former state executive councillors, namely Perak MCA chairman Datuk Mah Hang Soon (Tanjong Malim parliamentary seat), Datuk Rusnah Kassim (Behrang state seat) and Datuk Mohamad Zahir Abdul Khalid (Kamunting state seat).
Meanwhile, in terms of parliamentary seats in the state, PH won in 13 while BN got 11.
UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi won the Bagan Datuk seat with a majority of 5,073 votes, defeating Pakhrurrazi Arshad (PKR) and PAS' Ata Abdul Muneim Hasan Adli.
Perak PH chairman Ahmad Faizal Azumu pulled off a shocking win as a newcomer, defeating five-term incumbent Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah, with a majority of 5,320 votes.
In the 12th General Election, BN won 28 state seats, while the Opposition coalition at the time won 31, enabling them to form the state government.
However, it lasted only for 11 months, as BN took over the administration when four Pakatan Rakyat members left the party and declared themselves BN-friendly assemblymen.
--BERNAMA
