The Pakatan Harapan coalition won 16 out of the 18 polling districts in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, an increase of three districts compared to the 2023 state election, according to DAP’s internal analysis.
“The voter support rate only saw a slight decline in three polling districts,” said Harapan Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election director Ng Sze Han.
He said overall, voter support for Harapan across all ethnic groups increased in the polls, rising from 54.4 percent in last year’s state election to 56.57 percent in the by-election.
He highlighted that Malay support for Harapan increased from 37.7 percent in the state election to 40.4 percent, a rise of 2.7 percent. Chinese support increased from 83.9 percent to 87.1 percent, an improvement of 3.2 percent.
However, Ng’s (above) data differed from the numbers provided by Selangor DAP.
State chapter treasurer Ong Kian Ming estimated that only 22 percent of Malay voters supported the coalition in the state election last year, with Chinese and Indian support rates at 99 percent and 80 percent, respectively.
Higher Indian votes
On another note, Ng said support for Harapan among Indian voters, as well as military and police personnel, also significantly increased by 24 percent and 40 percent respectively.
In the Nigel Gardner polling district, where Indian voters made up nearly 61 percent, Harapan secured 79.6 percent of votes.
In the Pertak polling district, where nearly 40 percent of the voters are Orang Asli, Harapan secured 72.67 percent of votes.
Compared to the state election, votes for Harapan in these two polling districts in the by-election were higher by 24 percent and 40.36 percent respectively, indicating a shift in support from Indian and indigenous voters towards Harapan.
“Especially in the Pertak polling district, we received 95 votes in the state election and 250 in the by-election. This shows strong support from the indigenous community,” he added.
Ng also pointed out that Harapan achieved support between 78 percent and 95 percent in six polling districts in the by-election with more than 60 percent Chinese voters – an increase of 3.21 percent compared to the 2023 state election.
“The three districts with the highest support were KKB New Village, Batang Kali New Village, and Rasa village, where support for Harapan exceeded 90 percent.”
He noted that these districts have a predominantly Chinese population, and thanked voters for making a wise choice.
In four Malay-majority polling districts, comprising more than 60 percent Malay voters), Perikatan Nasional won two, namely Ampang Pecah and Bandar Utama Batang Kali.
Harapan also won in all five mixed polling districts: Kuala Kubu Baharu town, Kerling, Lembah Beringin, Kuala Kali, and Ulu Yam 30th mile.
Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election victory a boost for coalition govt
However, Ng revealed that compared to the state election last year, support for Harapan in three mixed polling districts had declined slightly.
“These are KKB town, Kuala Kali, and Ulu Yam 30th mile, with a drop of between one percent to 2.4 percent, which is an acceptable decline in a by-election.”
Harapan’s voter support in mixed polling districts reached 57.6 percent, only a one percent decrease from the 58.6 percent in the state election.
Ng concluded that the by-election victory serves as a strong boost for the coalition government to continue promoting development and strive to reclaim all three state seats in the Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency in the next election.
He said that the data shows that voters recognise the collaboration between Harapan and BN, and the relationship within the government will be more stable, bolstering local development and economic growth.
