Kalabakan BN candidate staves off 6 challengers with 14,221 majority

Despite having to stave off six challengers, Kalabakan (Sabah) Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh won comfortably with a 14,221 vote majority in Sunday's 13th general election. The veteran politician who retained the seat for the fourth term, won uncontested in 2004 and 2008. His nearest rival Usman Madeaming from PAS received 8,904 votes, while Malvine Reyes from the State Reform Party (STAR), 603 votes, Independent Siamsir Borhan (891), Mohd Manuke (1,313), Freedie Japat Anak Simol (137) and Yahya Zainal, 132; four of the candidates lost their deposit. Meanwhile, the BN won 18 of the 24 parliamentary seats it contested in a four-cornered fight. The 18 seats are Kudat, Tuaran, Putatan, Kimanis, Ranau, Pensiangan, Silam, Kota Marudu, Sepanggar, Beluran, Libaran, Kinabatangan, Tawau (Sabah); Mas Gading, Santubong, Sri Aman (Sarawak), Tapah (Perak) and Hulu Selangor(Selangor). The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) won the remaining six seats comprising Alor Star, Sungai Petani (Kedah); Kota Raja, Sepang (Selangor); Batu Kawan (Penang) and Bandar Tun Razak (Kuala Lumpur). Incumbent Tapah, Perak BN candidate Datuk M. Saravanan won his second term after defeating his three challengers, Independent Ridzuan Bani who obtained 337 votes, Berjasa's Shaharuzzaman Bistamam (2,053 votes) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)'s K.Vasantha Kumar (12,743 votes). The Federal Territory and Urban Wellbeing former deputy minister obtained 20,670 votes to gain a 7,927 majority. Selangor caretaker menteri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim from PKR retained Bandar Tun Razak for the second term with 44,067 votes, exceeding the 28,123 votes he won in the 2008 general election in a straight fight. In the latest general election, Abdul Khalid's nearest challenger Tan Kok Eng from the BN obtained 32,235 votes, while two independent candidates, Mohamad Sukeri Abdul Samat and Mokhtar Salahudin lost their deposits after getting 793 and 191 votes respectively. BN also maintained its outstanding performance in straight-fight contests, winning 79 of the 132 seats or 59.8 percent while the PR only won 53 seats or 40.2 percent. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who is also BN chairman defended his Pekan seat for the 10th term with an impressive 35,613 votes, that substantially exceeded his score in the 2008 general election, by defeating PKR's Mohd Fariz Musa. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin defended his Pagoh seat in a face-off with Mohd Rozali Jamil from PAS with a 12,842 vote majority by obtaining 26,274 votes over his opponent's 13,432. In three-cornered challenges, PR won 70 percent of the 75 parliamentary constituencies it contested in, while the BN won 30 percent or 32 of 107 seats it contested. In five-cornered contests, BN won three of seven seats, in Cameron Highlands (Pahang), and Kota Belud and Tenom in Sabah, while PR won four seats, Padang Serai (Kedah), Seremban (Negeri Sembilan), Subang (Selangor) and Batu (Federal Territory). Kapar, Selangor which involved a six-cornered fight saw BN candidate A. Sakthivel losing to PKR's G. Manivannan in a 23,790 vote majority.