Malaysia’s 15th General Elections is upon us. Here’s a complete timeline of the highlights, who said what, and everything that has happened since the Parliament dissolved on the 10th of October.
18 Nov 2022 – Tomorrow is voting day, and the fate of our country may change forever. Check out everything you need to know as a voter before you cast your ballot so everything goes smoothly.
The Election Commission (EC) has decided that Padang Serai parliamentary seat election will be done over on Dec 7. Nomination will be conducted on Nov 24.
16 Nov 2022 – Rafizi Ramli claimed that his office was raided by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) following recent police reports relating to his asset declaration. MACC allegedly interrogated his staff for seven hours, and the raid ended at 9pm.
The incumbent of the Padang Serai parliamentary seat, Datuk M. Karupaiya, passed away today. The EC will decide upon a new date for the election at Padang Serai.
15 Nov 2022 – It's early voting day. A total of 94.72% or 212,961 individuals made up of military/police personnel and their spouses have cast their ballots for GE15 and the Bugaya by-election.
Covid-positive voters will be separated from others, the Election Commission said. Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin later confirmed that they will be allowed to skip the queue upon showing their MySejahtera status.
PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has made a police report against two individuals who issued racially insensitive remarks. They are Sik PAS Youth chief Shahiful Nasir who said voters would “go to hell” if they voted for BN or PH, and actor Zul Huzaimy who incited remarks against “kafir harbi” (infidels).
14 Nov 2022 – It has been officially announced that the eve of polling day (18 Nov) and polling day itself (19 Nov) are public holidays.
13 Nov 2022 – UMNO temporarily suspended 2 Wanita chiefs today for allegedly directly or indirectly supporting candidates of the opposing party in the 15th General Election (GE15). They are the Arau Division Wanita chief, Datin Seri Shamsiah Yasin, and Maran Division Wanita chief, Datin Seri Fatimah Kassim.
Meanwhile, some postal voters, especially Malaysians abroad, claim they have yet to receive their ballot papers. They were even informed that they will only receive their ballot papers on Saturday itself (polling day).
12 Nov 2022 – Former foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman says he supports opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to become prime minister. Anifah also said that he was inspired by Anwar to join politics.
11 Nov 2022 – Were early votes cast before the early voting date? Anwar Ibrahim claims so, as he said that early voting by military personnel had already been conducted on this day in the Bera constituency, where Ismail Sabri is the incumbent. Anwar also added that army personnel were paid RM300 to vote.
The caretaker Prime Minister however refuted these claims and asked Anwar to apologize publicly for tarnishing the army's image.
10 Nov 2022 – Penang also declared the eve of GE15 a public holiday so voters can make the necessary preparations.
Meanwhile, it's essential to know that smartphones are not allowed at polling stations when you cast your vote. According to the Election Commission, voters must surrender their smartphone to the person in charge of the polling station, and then cast their vote at the voting booth. After that, voters will be able to collect their smartphone and then exit the polling station
Later that night, Dr Mahathir's coalition Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) launched their ‘Agenda Baharu Malaysia’ manifesto, which focuses on anti-corruption and integrity.
9 Nov 2022 – UMNO's Sungai Buloh candidate Khairy Jamaluddin admitted that he wants to be Prime Minister. He hopes that he does not have to wait too long to achieve his dream.
Besides that, some states have opted to declare a public holiday on the eve of GE15, 18 November. The first two to do so are Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.
8 Nov 2022 – Incumbent Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh experienced a rude awakening as her banner in TTDI, Kuala Lumpur is destroyed. She condemned the act and warned the vandals of her “voters’ wrath." Nurul Izzah Anwar's banner was also torn.
7 Nov 2022 – UMNO has sacked four warlords for contesting in the election under a different banner or as independent candidates. They are Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin, Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib, and Datuk Azhar Ahmad.
This night, BN also launched their 'PADU' manifesto, themed 'Perancangan Amal dan Usaha' with 99 offers to propel the country towards a developed nation status.
6 Nov 2022 – PN unveiled their manifesto titled "PN Best", themed ‘Prihatin, Bersih, Stabil.' It has over 200 offerings for the economy and EPF withdrawals.
5 Nov 2022 – It's nomination day. Malaysians are expected to get to know the respective candidates contesting for the coveted 222 parliamentary seats.
Today began with Sarawak Aspiration People’s Party (Aspirasi) unceremoniously withdrawing from contesting in GE15. According to its president Lina Soo, many factors contributed to the decision; the first being that Aspirasi does not support the dissolution of Parliament to make way for GE15 during the monsoon season.
For Klang Valley residents, political parties also announced the full list of candidates in Selangor, KL, & Putrajaya.
Among them, seven candidates have confirmed that they will contest for the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat, while urban constituency Batu is set for an historic 10-cornered fight where its candidates include Chua Tian Chang, P. Prabakaran, Siti Kasim, Nathan Batu.
Unfortunately, PKR’s Chua Tian Chang will be sacked for going against the party's wishes and nominating himself as an independent candidate for the Batu parliamentary seat. PKR President Anwar Ibrahim said that it is the policy for all members who contest as independent candidates, regardless of their justification.
Although rejected by BN, UMNO warlord Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim will contest under Perikatan Nasional in Arau. His supporters outnumbered those from PH, Warisan and BN today at the election nomination centre.
The police also confirmed that there was a commotion at the candidate nomination centre at Dewan DSP Antanom, Tenom in Sabah. The incident was believed to have occurred when the supporters of Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) were dissatisfied over the rejection of the nomination form from the party’s Datuk Peter Anthony by the returning officer.
4 Nov 2022 – Just a day before the GE15 nomination day, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok objected to UMNO's Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos contesting the Sg Besar parliamentary seat, citing her bankruptcy notice was issued to him when he allegedly failed to pay more than RM350,000 to her as directed by the high court for defamation.
Jamal defended himself, saying the issue has not been concluded yet and will only lose the chance to contest when all his appeals have failed.
Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) today announced to contest 7 Parliamentary seats and 2 state seats. Among them are incumbent Ampang MP Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin and Datuk Larry Sng for Julau.
2 Nov 2022 – Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) announce their respective candidates for parliamentary seats in Peninsular Malaysia.
The internal conflict between Parti Bangsa Malaysia’s (PBM) leaders Larry Sng and Zuraida Kamaruddin has also been resolved. PBM will focus on GE15 first, and look into other administration-related matters later.
Tan Sri Annuar Musa who was dropped from competing in GE15 by Umno may yet decide to seek re-election as he has registered a party with the RoS named Muafakat Nasional (MN) with himself as the president.
Asset declaration has begun with PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, who became the first Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate to declare his assets publicly. His total value of net assets is RM18,851,350 as of October 31.
Finally, MUDA president Syed Saddiq will remain in the running to defend his seat in the Muar Parliament. As the incumbent, he would compete with BN candidate Helmy Abdul Latif and PN candidate Abdullah Husin.
1 Nov 2022 – Wanita Perikatan Nasional (PN) chief Datuk Seri Rina Harun has been named the coalition’s candidate for the Sepang parliamentary seat.
In a jarring move, UMNO has dropped Caretaker Federal Territories minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim as well as communications and multimedia minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa from competing at GE15. Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has also been excluded.
Perikatan Nasional (PN) announced that it would contest 169 parliamentary seats and 116 state seats in Pahang, Perlis and Perak.
30 Oct 2022 – Bersatu vice-president Datuk Mohd Rafiq announced his resignation from all his positions and has left the party with immediate effect. This was after he was not listed as Perikatan National (PN) candidate for the Tangga Batu parliamentary seat.
The Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) called off its electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan after the coalition allegedly refused to allocate it a single seat to contest in the 15th general election.
DAP announced four candidates who will contest parliamentary seats in Johor. They are Fatin Zulaikha Zaidi (P154 Mersing), Wong Shu Qi (P152 Kluang), Teo Nie Ching (P164 Kulai), and Liew Chin Tong (P162 Iskandar Puteri).
29 Oct 2022 – Datuk Larry Sng, who claimed to be still the legitimate president of Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), has suspended Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin and 12 other PBM supreme council members. Zuraida, the current Ampang incumbent MP, could find herself without a party to contest on in the upcoming GE15.
Khairy Jamaluddin may stand as Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate in Sungai Buloh, a source told Malaysiakini.
25 Oct 2022 – Former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah will be fielded as PKR’s candidate for the Bandar Tun Razak federal seat. She is is the incumbent in Pandan.
24 Oct 2022 – Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Anwar Ibrahim announced that he will appoint only two deputy prime ministers, one for the peninsula and another to represent both Sabah and Sarawak.
On this day, the incumbent Besut MP Tan Sri Idris Jusoh from BN confirmed that he won't be defending the parliamentary seat in GE15, to make way for newer and younger UMNO leaders.
23 Oct 2022 – There may be 3 Deputy Prime Minister positions if BN wins GE15, according to the party's chairman Zahid Hamidi. The three posts will represent Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula.
22 Oct 2022 – Pakatan Harapan is prepared to face GE15 without Mahathir this time. Although they respect Mahathir's invitation to cooperate, they'd have to abide by Mahathir's coalition GTA's terms. PH wishes Mahathir all the best, as they share the same goal of defeating BN and Perikatan Nasional.
Meanwhile, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang confessed to initiating the infamous 'Sheraton Move' and nominating Muhyiddin Yassin as PM in 2020. Hadi defended his actions, saying that the rakyat should choose leaders who will reign with Islamic principles in mind, instead of a government that "throws money and makes various promises."
21 Oct 2022 – PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that he will contest the Tambun parliamentary seat in Perak. He felt responsible to strengthen PH in the north. The current Tambun seat is held by Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who is also the Minister of Youth and Sports.
On the same day, Anwar also vowed to cut his salary if he became PM. Meanwhile, ex-PM Mahathir Mohamad said he is ready to meet with his former enemies, and yes this includes Anwar, in a bid to save the country. Nothing personal, Mahathir said.
Another report also revealed that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi surprisingly may not contest in GE15. His Bagan Datuk parliamentary seat will allegedly be succeeded by his daughter, Nurulhidayah.
20 Oct 2022 – EC announces important dates for GE15. Nominations start Nov 5, early voting Nov 15, and polling date Nov 19. Meanwhile, Kuala Langat MP Xavier Jayakumar and Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto step down from politics for this election.
19 Oct 2022 – Mahathir's party GTA confirmed that his coalition will contest using PEJUANG's flag & logo.
17 Oct 2022 – Perlis, Pahang, and Perak dissolve their respective state assemblies. Unexpected shortlisted candidates representing Mahathir’s Gerakan Tanah Air in Negeri Sembilan include former IGP Hamid Bador and renowned filmmaker Ahmad Idham.
On the same day, MUDA leader Syed Saddiq gets heckled by a crowd of rowdy motorists who called him a "liar." The Muar MP says he was saddened by their behavior.
16 Oct 2022 – Motion naming Ismail Sabri Yaakob as a candidate for Prime Minister gets almost unanimous support from all UMNO divisions.
15 Oct 2022 – Former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that this would be his last general election. The 75-year-old would like to spend time with his wife, children, and eight grandchildren. Meanwhile, Pakatan-governed states Penang, Selangor, and Negri Sembilan will not dissolve their assemblies. Bersatu also felt the need to insist that they will not collaborate with Pakatan Harapan.
13 Oct 2022 – Bersatu founding member Datuk Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff officially joins PKR today, after leaving his former party last week. He insists that he’s not after a parliamentary seat, though. On the same day, PAS cements its decision to stick with Perikatan Nasional. PAS-led states Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu won’t dissolve their respective assemblies.
Meanwhile, UMNO and Barisan Nasional decide to go solo in the upcoming 15th general election (GE15). The party’s image will focus on moderation, and its ability to restore stability and prosperity for the pe
12 Oct 2022 – Klang MP Charles Santiago goes to court to try and defer GE15 in the wake of the monsoon season. On this day, PH also confirms accepting youth-led MUDA into their fold.
11 Oct 2022 – 97-year-old Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad confirmed that he would defend his Langkawi parliamentary seat. He also said he was “very nice” and wondered why Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim didn’t want to work with him. Therefore, he formed his own coalition, Gerakan Tanah Air. On the same day, the Election Commission announced that they would hold a meeting on 20th October to decide polling dates.
10 Oct 2022 – 14th Parliament dissolved, paving the way for the elections. Ismail Sabri had obtained the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve the Parliament during an audience at Istana Negara the day before. Application for postal voting opens up the same evening.
