1969 Malaysian general election

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| ← 1964 | 10 May 1969 – 4 July 1970 | 1974 →

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← outgoing members

elected members →

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All 144 seats in the Dewan Rakyat
73 seats needed for a majority
Registered| 3,439,707
Turnout| 73.59%
|   | First party  | Second party  | Third party

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|
|

|  |  |
Leader  | Tunku Abdul Rahman | Burhanuddin al-Helmy | Goh Hock Guan
Party  | Alliance | PAS | DAP
Last election  | 58.53%, 89 seats  | 14.64%, 9 seats  | 2.05%, 1 seat
Seats won  | 74 | 12  | 13
Seat change  |  15  |  3  |  12
Popular vote  | 1,077,499 | 501,123  | 286,606
Percentage  | 44.96% | 20.91%  | 11.96%
Swing  | 13.57pp  | 6.27pp  | 9.91pp

* * *

| Fourth party  | Fifth party  | Sixth party

GER

|  |

SUP

Leader  | Syed Hussein Alatas | S. P. Seenivasagam  | Ong Kee Hui
Party  | GERAKAN | PPP | SUPP
Last election  | –  | 3.40%, 2 seats  | 3 seats
Seats won  | 8  | 4  | 5
Seat change  | New |  2  |  2
Popular vote  | 178,971  | 80,756  | 72,754
Percentage  | 7.47%  | 3.37%  | 3.04%
Swing  | New | 0.04pp  | –

* * *

| Seventh party  | Eighth party  | Ninth party
|  |  |
Leader  | Stephen Kalong Ningkan | Mustapha Harun | Jugah Barieng
Party  | SNAP | USNO | Pesaka
Last election  | 4 seats  | 6 seats  | –
Seats won  | 9  | 13  | 2
Seat change  |  5  |  7  | New
Popular vote  | 64,593  | 13,634  | 30,765
Percentage  | 2.69%  | 0.57%  | 1.28%
Swing  | –  | –  | New

* * *

* * *

| Prime Minister before election

Tunku Abdul Rahman
Alliance

| Prime Minister-designate

Tunku Abdul Rahman
Alliance

|

General elections were held in Malaysia on Saturday, 10 May 1969, although voting was postponed until between 6 June and 4 July 1970 in Sabah and Sarawak.[1] This election marked the first parliamentary election held in Sabah and Sarawak after the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

The elections resulted in the return to power, with a reduced majority, of the ruling Alliance Party, comprising the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the Malayan Chinese Association, and the Malayan Indian Congress. The Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) and the Democratic Action Party (DAP), which had campaigned against Bumiputra privileges outlined by Article 153 of the Constitution, made major gains in the election.[2] Voter turnout was 73.6%. Opposition won 54 seats in total causing the Alliance to lose its two-thirds majority in the Parliament (two-thirds majority being the majority required to pass most constitutional amendments) for the first time.

The elections also saw Alliance lose its majority in Perak, Selangor and Penang in addition to Kelantan. The result of the election and subsequent reactions would cause widespread race riots also known as the 13 May Incident. As a consequence of this incident, the federal government decided to suspend parliament and government administration was monitored by MAGERAN until 1971.[3] It also marked the end of Tunku Abdul Rahman's administration as Prime Minister before he was succeeded by Tun Abdul Razak several months later. Razak would then seek the main purpose to establish the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.[4]

State elections also took place in 330 state constituencies in 12 (out of 13, except Sabah) states of Malaysia on the same day.

## Results

[edit]

### Dewan Rakyat

[edit]

Candidates were returned unopposed in 20 constituencies.[5] Voting in one constituency was postponed.

West Malaysia went to the polls on 10 May, while Sabah was scheduled to vote on 25 May and Sarawak on 7 June. The Alliance won eight seats on nomination day being unopposed in some constituencies. Tun Mustapha Datu Harun's United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) won 10 out of 16 seats unopposed on nomination day.

The opposition parties' gain at state level was more shocking to the Alliance Party which not only continued to lose to PAS in Kelantan, but also to political infant Gerakan in Penang. No party commanded an absolute majority in two other states. The Alliance held only 14 out of 24 seats in Selangor and 19 out of 40 in Perak.[2]

The attrition of Malay support was much higher than that of the non-Malays. Malay opposition parties' vote shares in the peninsula increased drastically from about 15% in 1964 to 25% in 1969 while the support for non-Malay opposition parties remained roughly the same at 26% in both elections. Thanks to the electoral system, however, PAS seats increased from nine to 12 seats only while non-Malay opposition party, DAP, from 1 to 13.

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats| +/–

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| Alliance Party| | United Malays National Organisation| 1,077,499| 44.96| 52| –7
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 13| –14
| Parti Bumiputera Sarawak| 5| –3
| Malaysian Indian Congress| 2| –1
| Sarawak Chinese Association| 2| –2
Total| 74| –22
| Pan-Malayan Islamic Party| 501,123| 20.91| 12| +3
| Democratic Action Party| 286,606| 11.96| 13| +12
| Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia| 178,971| 7.47| 8| New
| People's Progressive Party| 80,756| 3.37| 4| +2
| Sarawak United Peoples' Party| 72,754| 3.04| 5| +2
| Sarawak National Party| 64,593| 2.69| 9| +5
| Parti Pesaka Sarawak| 30,765| 1.28| 2| New
| Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia| 27,110| 1.13| 0| 0
| Sabah Chinese Association| 18,313| 0.76| 3| –1
| United Sabah National Organisation| 13,634| 0.57| 13| +7
| United Malaysia Chinese Organization| 1,808| 0.08| 0| New
| Independents| 42,904| 1.79| 1| +1
Total| 2,396,836| 100.00| 144| –15
Valid votes| 2,396,836| 94.68|
Invalid/blank votes| 134,605| 5.32|
Total votes| 2,531,441| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 3,439,707| 73.59|
Source: CLEA[6] Tindak Malaysia Github

Sarawak Alliance contested under Alliance Flag (though not formally under Alliance pact)

Total Electorate (1969): 3843182. Registered voters shown above refer to the contested constituencies (excluding 20 parliamentary uncontested seats

### Results by state

[edit]

Source:Tindak Malaysia Github[7]

#### Johore

[edit]

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats| +/–

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| Alliance Party| | United Malays National Organisation| 82,938| 42.21| 11| 0
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 49,916| 25.40| 5| 0
Total| 132,854| 67.62| 16| 0
| Democratic Action Party| 42,301| 21.53| 0| New
| Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia| 8,211| 4.18| 0| New
| Pan-Malayan Islamic Party| 7,933| 4.04| 0| 0
| Independents| 5,183| 2.64| 0| –
Total| 196,482| 100.00| 16| 0
Valid votes| 196,482| 94.02|
Invalid/blank votes| 12,505| 5.98|
Total votes| 208,987| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 287,936| 72.58|

Total Electorate for Johor (1969): 436 620. Above registered voter count is based on electorate of contested seats (excluding 5 uncontested seats)

#### Kedah

[edit]

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats| +/–

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| Alliance Party| | United Malays National Organisation| 127,580| 45.20| 7| –3
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 23,397| 8.29| 2| 0
Total| 150,977| 53.49| 9| –3
| Pan-Malayan Islamic Party| 115,861| 41.05| 3| +3
| Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia| 15,402| 5.46| 0| New
Total| 282,240| 100.00| 12| 0
Valid votes| 282,240| 96.21|
Invalid/blank votes| 11,133| 3.79|
Total votes| 293,373| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 388,167| 75.58|

#### Kelantan

[edit]

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats| +/–

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| Pan-Malayan Islamic Party| 126,409| 52.40| 6| –2
| Alliance Party| | United Malays National Organisation| 114,593| 47.50| 4| +2
| Independents| 235| 0.10| 0| –
Total| 241,237| 100.00| 10| 0
Valid votes| 241,237| 96.94|
Invalid/blank votes| 7,626| 3.06|
Total votes| 248,863| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 333,754| 74.56|

#### Malacca

[edit]

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats| +/–

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| Alliance Party| | United Malays National Organisation| 30,458| 28.80| 2| 0
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 21,136| 19.98| 1| –1
Total| 51,594| 48.78| 3| –1
| Democratic Action Party| 18,562| 17.55| 1| New
| Pan-Malayan Islamic Party| 20,524| 19.40| 0| 0
| Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia| 12,436| 11.76| 0| 0
| Independents| 2,655| 2.51| 0| 0
Total| 105,771| 100.00| 4| 0
Valid votes| 105,771| 95.87|
Invalid/blank votes| 4,561| 4.13|
Total votes| 110,332| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 147,765| 74.67|

#### Negri Sembilan

[edit]

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats| +/–

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| Alliance Party| | United Malays National Organisation| 24,335| 24.37| 3| 0
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 15,350| 15.37| 0| –2
| Malaysian Indian Congress| 6,606| 6.62| 0| –1
Total| 46,291| 46.36| 3| 0
| Democratic Action Party| 35,446| 35.50| 3| New
| Pan-Malayan Islamic Party| 16,299| 16.32| 0| 0
| United Malaysian Chinese Organisation| 1,808| 1.81| 0| 0
Total| 99,844| 100.00| 6| 0
Valid votes| 99,844| 93.43|
Invalid/blank votes| 7,023| 6.57|
Total votes| 106,867| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 142,983| 74.74|

Total Electorate for Negri Sembilan (1969): 170 128. Above registered voter count is based on electorate of contested seats (excluding 1 uncontested seat of Rembau-Tampin)

#### Pahang

[edit]

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats| +/–

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| Alliance Party| | United Malays National Organisation| 48,507| 60.84| 5| 0
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 0| 0.00| 1| 0
Total| 48,507| 60.84| 0| 0
| Pan-Malayan Islamic Party| 19,458| 24.41| 0| 0
| Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia| 11,764| 14.75| 0| 0
Total| 79,729| 100.00| 6| 0
Valid votes| 79,729| 94.19|
Invalid/blank votes| 4,916| 5.81|
Total votes| 84,645| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 119,254| 70.98|

Total Electorate for Pahang (1969): 176768. Above registered voter count is based on electorate of contested seats (excluding 2 uncontested seats which includes MCA seat)

#### Penang

[edit]

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats| +/–

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| Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia| 83,670| 44.55| 5| New
| Alliance Party| | United Malays National Organisation| 45,715| 24.34| 1| –3
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 23,510| 12.52| 1| –1
Total| 69,225| 36.86| 2| 0
| Democratic Action Party| 20,930| 11.14| 1| New
| Pan-Malayan Islamic Party| 13,211| 7.03| 0| 0
| People's Progressive Party| 775| 0.41| 0| 0
Total| 187,811| 100.00| 8| 0
Valid votes| 187,811| 94.06|
Invalid/blank votes| 11,860| 5.94|
Total votes| 199,671| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 257,608| 77.51|

Total Electorate for Penang (1969): 282401. Above registered voter count is based on electorate of contested seats (excluding the uncontested seat of Bagan)

#### Perak

[edit]

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats| +/–

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| Alliance Party| | United Malays National Organisation| 97,612| 22.91| 7| –2
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 78,262| 18.37| 1| –7
| Malaysian Indian Congress| 7,985| 1.87| 1| 0
Total| 183,859| 43.16| 9| –9
| Democratic Action Party| 68,651| 16.12| 5| New
| People's Progressive Party| 79,981| 18.78| 4| +2
| Pan-Malayan Islamic Party| 76,158| 17.88| 1| +1
| Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia| 15,641| 3.67| 1| New
| Independents| 1,691| 0.40| 0| 0
Total| 425,981| 100.00| 20| 0
Valid votes| 425,981| 95.08|
Invalid/blank votes| 22,055| 4.92|
Total votes| 448,036| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 613,572| 73.02|

#### Perlis

[edit]

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats| +/–

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| Alliance Party| | United Malays National Organisation| 22,195| 51.15| 2| 0
| Pan-Malayan Islamic Party| 18,286| 42.14| 0| 0
| Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia| 2,910| 6.71| 0| New
Total| 43,391| 100.00| 2| 0
Valid votes| 43,391| 96.46|
Invalid/blank votes| 1,591| 3.54|
Total votes| 44,982| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 56,060| 80.24|

#### Sabah

[edit]

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats| +/–

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| Sabah Alliance| | United Sabah National Organisation| 13,634| 30.59| 13| 0
| Sabah Chinese Association| 18,313| 41.09| 3| 0
Total| 31,947| 71.67| –| 16
| Independents| 12,626| 28.33| 0| 0
Total| 44,573| 100.00| 16| 0
Valid votes| 44,573| 96.83|
Invalid/blank votes| 1,458| 3.17|
Total votes| 46,031| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 63,522| 72.46|

Total Electorate (1969):208861. Above registered voter count only refers to total electorate of 5 seats. Remaining 11 seats were won uncontested

#### Sarawak

[edit]

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats| +/–

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| Sarawak National Party| 64,593| 26.80| 9| 0
| Sarawak United Peoples' Party| 72,754| 30.19| 5| 0
| Sarawak Alliance| | Parti Bumiputera Sarawak| 41,835| 17.36| 5| –
| Sarawak Chinese Association| 10,520| 4.37| 2| –
Total| 52,355| 21.73| 7| New
| Parti Pesaka Sarawak| 30,765| 12.77| 2| 0
| Independents| 20,514| 8.51| 1| 0
Total| 240,981| 100.00| 24| 0
Valid votes| 240,981| 90.93|
Invalid/blank votes| 24,032| 9.07|
Total votes| 265,013| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 332,737| 79.65|

Sarawak Alliance contested under Alliance Flag

#### Selangor

[edit]

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats| +/–

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| Alliance Party| | United Malays National Organisation| 59,634| 18.58| 6| 0
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 70,245| 21.89| 2| –3
| Malaysian Indian Congress| 11,252| 3.51| 1| 0
Total| 141,131| 43.97| 9| –3
| Democratic Action Party| 100,716| 31.38| 3| New
| Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia| 56,047| 17.46| 2| New
| Pan-Malayan Islamic Party| 23,041| 7.18| 0| 0
Total| 320,935| 100.00| 14| 0
Valid votes| 320,935| 94.39|
Invalid/blank votes| 19,086| 5.61|
Total votes| 340,021| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 516,984| 65.77|

#### Trengganu

[edit]

Party or alliance| Votes| %| Seats| +/–

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| Alliance Party| | United Malays National Organisation| 63,918| 49.99| 4| –1
| Pan-Malayan Islamic Party| 63,943| 50.01| 2| +1
Total| 127,861| 100.00| 6| 0
Valid votes| 127,861| 94.98|
Invalid/blank votes| 6,759| 5.02|
Total votes| 134,620| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 179,365| 75.05|

### State Assemblies

[edit]

Main article: 1969 Malaysian state elections

## Aftermath

[edit]

Gerakan and DAP held a victory rally in Kuala Lumpur on 12 May. The rally soon turned rowdy, as party members and Malay bystanders started to shout racial epithets at each other.[8] UMNO retaliated with its own rally on 13 May, which soon broke out into full-scale rioting. This event subsequently became known as the 13 May Incident.[8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p152 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
2. ^ a b Report on the parliamentary (Dewan Rakyat) and state legislative assembly general elections 1969 of the states of Malaya, Sabah, and Sarawak Archived 4 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine Election Commission of Malaysia
3. ^ "May 13: Why Malaysiakini revisited an old, but persistent, wound". 16 May 2019.
4. ^ "Kuala Lumpur History Facts and Timeline: Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia".
5. ^ "HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/1969-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYSIA_1969_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv at main · TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS". GitHub. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
6. ^ "PARLIAMENTARY RESULTS". The Straits Times. 11 May 1969. p. 4. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
7. ^ "HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/1969-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYSIA_1969_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv at main · TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS". GitHub. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
8. ^ a b Zainon Ahmad (26 July 2007). "The tragedy of May 13, 1969 (part 2)". The Sun. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.

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