1990 Malaysian general election

* * *

| ← 1986 | 20–21 October 1990 | 1995 →

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← outgoing members

elected members →

* * *

All 180 seats in the Dewan Rakyat
91 seats needed for a majority
Registered| 7,958,641
|   | First party  | Second party  | Third party

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|  |  |

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Leader  | Mahathir Mohamad | Lim Kit Siang & Joseph Pairin Kitingan | Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah
Party  | UMNO | DAP & USP | S46
Alliance  | BN | GR | APU
Last election  | 57.28%, 148 seats  | 22.69%, 34 seats  | 15.50, 1 seat[a]
Seats won  | 127 | 34  | 15
Seat change  |  21  |  4  |  14
Popular vote  | 2,985,392 | 1,113,488  | 1,218,211
Percentage  | 53.38% | 19.91%  | 21.78%
Swing  |  3.90pp  |  2.78pp  |  6.28pp

* * *

| Prime Minister before election

Mahathir Mohamad

| Prime Minister-designate

Mahathir Mohamad

|

General elections were held in Malaysia on 20 and 21 October 1990. Voting took place in all 180 parliamentary constituencies of Malaysia, each electing one Member of Parliament to the Dewan Rakyat, the dominant house of Parliament.[1] State elections also took place in 351 state constituencies in 11 (out of 13, except Sabah and Sarawak) states of Malaysia on the same day.

The result was a victory for the Barisan Nasional (BN) at the federal level and state except state of Kelantan with opposition alliance Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (APU) winning all 39 state assembly seats with 24 seats going to PAS and 15 for Semangat 46.[2]

## Background

[edit]

The elections marked the first after United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party split and the subsequent constitutional crisis in 1988. The reconstituted UMNO Baru (New UMNO), led by incumbent Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, and the newly formed Semangat 46 (S46), led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, contested for the first time in the elections.

It also marked the first time in country general election history when a credible, multi-ethnic coalition have been formed the challenge the dominance of Barisan Nasional. This also lead the country political scene from a dominant party system into two party system.[3] The Muslim opposition parties, Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Semangat 46, Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (BERJASA) and Parti Hizbul Muslimin Malaysia (HAMIM) teamed up to form the Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (APU). On the other hand, Semangat 46, Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), which withdrew from the Barisan Nasional (BN) at the eleventh hour of the general election, teamed up as Gagasan Rakyat. However, these two opposition alliances cooperated in the election but not openly due to the sensitivity of the secular DAP and the Islamic PAS working together.

## Results

[edit]

At the federal level, the BN coalition under the leadership of incumbent Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad won 127 of the 180 parliament seats to form the federal government.

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

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| Barisan Nasional| | United Malays National Organisation| 2,985,392| 53.38| 71| –12
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 18| +1
| Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu| 10| +2
| Malaysian Indian Congress| 6| 0
| United Sabah National Organisation| 6| +1
| Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia| 5| 0
| Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak| 4| –1
| Sarawak United Peoples' Party| 4| 0
| Sarawak National Party| 3| –1
| People's Progressive Party| 0| 0
Total| 127| –21
| Angkatan
Perpaduan Ummah| | Semangat 46| 842,342| 15.06| 8| New
| Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party| 375,869| 6.72| 7| +6
Total| 1,218,211| 21.78| 15| +14
| Gagasan Rakyat| | Democratic Action Party| 985,228| 17.61| 20| –4
| United Sabah Party| 128,260| 2.29| 14| +4
Total| 1,113,488| 19.91| 34| 0
| Parti Rakyat Malaysia| 56,462| 1.01| 0| 0
| Sarawak Malaysian People's Association| 35,310| 0.63| 0| New
| People's Justice Front| 12,655| 0.23| 0| New
| Sarawak United Labour Party| 162| 0.00| 0| 0
| Independents| 171,547| 3.07| 4| 0
Total| 5,593,227| 100.00| 180| +3
Valid votes| 5,593,227| 97.24|
Invalid/blank votes| 158,498| 2.76|
Total votes| 5,751,725| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 7,958,641| 72.27|
Source: Nohlen et al., CLEA, IPU

### By state

[edit]

#### Johor

[edit]

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

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| Barisan Nasional| | United Malays National Organisation| 426,854| 61.49| 12| 0
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 5| 0
| Malaysian Indian Congress| 1| 0
Total| 18| 0
| Semangat 46| 142,227| 20.49| 0| New
| Democratic Action Party| 104,840| 15.10| 0| 0
| Parti Rakyat Malaysia| 17,583| 2.53| 0| 0
| Independents| 2,707| 0.39| 0| 0
Total| 694,211| 100.00| 18| 0
Valid votes| 694,211| 96.30|
Invalid/blank votes| 26,670| 3.70|
Total votes| 720,881| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 972,171| 74.15|

#### Kedah

[edit]

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

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| Barisan Nasional| | United Malays National Organisation| 258,834| 53.64| 12| 0
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 41,871| 8.68| 2| 0
Total| 300,705| 62.32| 14| 0
| Semangat 46| 99,007| 20.52| 0| New
| Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party| 76,936| 15.94| 0| 0
| Democratic Action Party| 5,360| 1.11| 0| 0
| Independents| 537| 0.11| 0| 0
Total| 482,545| 100.00| 14| 0
Valid votes| 482,545| 97.02|
Invalid/blank votes| 14,838| 2.98|
Total votes| 497,383| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 657,322| 75.67|

#### Kelantan

[edit]

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

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| Semangat 46| 140,281| 34.19| 7| New
| Barisan Nasional| | United Malays National Organisation| 134,279| 32.73| 0| -12
| Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party| 133,251| 32.48| 6| +5
| Independents| 2,465| 0.60| 0| 0
Total| 410,276| 100.00| 13| 0
Valid votes| 410,276| 97.58|
Invalid/blank votes| 10,173| 2.42|
Total votes| 420,449| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 536,020| 78.44|

#### Kuala Lumpur

[edit]

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

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| Barisan Nasional| | United Malays National Organisation| 153,723| 43.11| 3| 0
| Democratic Action Party| 141,724| 39.75| 4| 0
| Semangat 46| 33,417| 9.37| 0| New
| Parti Rakyat Malaysia| 25,259| 7.08| 0| 0
| Independents| 2,432| 0.68| 0| 0
Total| 356,555| 100.00| 7| 0
Valid votes| 356,555| 98.83|
Invalid/blank votes| 4,215| 1.17|
Total votes| 360,770| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 527,834| 68.35|

#### Labuan

[edit]

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

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| Barisan Nasional| | United Malays National Organisation| 7,130| 59.69| 1| +1
| Independents| 4,816| 40.31| 0| –1
Total| 11,946| 100.00| 1| 0
Valid votes| 11,946| 98.64|
Invalid/blank votes| 165| 1.36|
Total votes| 12,111| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 16,388| 73.90|

#### Malacca

[edit]

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

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| Barisan Nasional| | United Malays National Organisation| 120,233| 60.55| 3| 0
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 1| 0
Total| 4| 0
| Semangat 46| 40,326| 20.31| 0| New
| Democratic Action Party| 33,993| 17.12| 1| 0
| Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party| 4,019| 2.02| 0| 0
Total| 198,571| 100.00| 5| 0
Valid votes| 198,571| 96.93|
Invalid/blank votes| 6,284| 3.07|
Total votes| 204,855| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 265,059| 77.29|

#### Negeri Sembilan

[edit]

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

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| Barisan Nasional| | United Malays National Organisation| 152,118| 60.25| 4| 0
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 2| +2
| Malaysian Indian Congress| 1| 0
Total| 7| +2
| Democratic Action Party| 58,521| 23.18| 0| -2
| Semangat 46| 41,857| 16.58| 0| New
Total| 252,496| 100.00| 7| 0
Valid votes| 252,496| 96.95|
Invalid/blank votes| 7,935| 3.05|
Total votes| 260,431| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 345,468| 75.38|

#### Pahang

[edit]

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

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| Barisan Nasional| | United Malays National Organisation| 203,504| 63.04| 7| 0
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 3| 0
Total| 10| 0
| Semangat 46| 66,337| 20.55| 0| 0
| Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party| 29,960| 9.28| 0| 0
| Democratic Action Party| 23,030| 7.13| 0| 0
Total| 322,831| 100.00| 10| 0
Valid votes| 322,831| 96.52|
Invalid/blank votes| 11,627| 3.48|
Total votes| 334,458| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 452,997| 73.83|

#### Penang

[edit]

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

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| Barisan Nasional| | United Malays National Organisation| 85,315| 20.38| 4| 0
| Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia| 64,485| 15.40| 1| 0
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 63,732| 15.22| 0| 0
Total| 213,532| 51.00| 5| 0
| Democratic Action Party| 170,053| 40.61| 6| 0
| Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party| 14,322| 3.42| 0| 0
| Parti Rakyat Malaysia| 13,620| 3.25| 0| 0
| Semangat 46| 7,174| 1.71| 0| New
Total| 418,701| 100.00| 11| 0
Valid votes| 418,701| 97.81|
Invalid/blank votes| 9,371| 2.19|
Total votes| 428,072| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 559,223| 76.55|

#### Perak

[edit]

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

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| Barisan Nasional| | United Malays National Organisation| 391,628| 56.17| 11| 0
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 3| 0
| Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia| 3| 0
| Malaysian Indian Congress| 2| 0
Total| 19| 0
| Democratic Action Party| 186,147| 26.70| 4| 0
| Semangat 46| 82,971| 11.90| 0| 0
| Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party| 33,955| 4.87| 0| 0
| Independents| 2,516| 0.36| 0| 0
Total| 697,217| 100.00| 23| 0
Valid votes| 697,217| 96.87|
Invalid/blank votes| 22,514| 3.13|
Total votes| 719,731| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 1,031,381| 69.78|

#### Perlis

[edit]

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

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| Barisan Nasional| | United Malays National Organisation| 47,767| 65.45| 2| 0
| Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party| 13,154| 18.02| 0| 0
| Semangat 46| 12,056| 16.52| 0| New
Total| 72,977| 100.00| 2| 0
Valid votes| 72,977| 96.63|
Invalid/blank votes| 2,544| 3.37|
Total votes| 75,521| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 99,097| 76.21|

#### Sabah

[edit]

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

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| United Sabah Party| 128,261| 41.04| 14| +7
| Barisan Nasional| | United Sabah National Organisation| 57,365| 18.36| 6| -2
| Democratic Action Party| 28,547| 9.13| 0| –4
| People's Justice Front| 12,655| 4.05| 0| New
| Independents| 85,688| 27.42| 0| –1
Total| 312,516| 100.00| 20| 0

#### Sarawak

[edit]

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

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| Barisan Nasional| | Sarawak United Peoples' Party| 262,092| 57.07| 4| 0
| Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu| 10| +2
| Sarawak National Party| 3| -1
| Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak| 4| -1
Total| 21| 0
| Democratic Action Party| 87,017| 18.95| 2| +1
| Sarawak Malaysian People's Association| 35,310| 7.69| 0| 0
| Sarawak United Labour Party| 162| 0.04| 0| 0
| Independents| 74,635| 16.25| 4| +2
Total| 459,216| 100.00| 27| +3
Valid votes| 459,216| 98.38|
Invalid/blank votes| 7,571| 1.62|
Total votes| 466,787| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 688,216| 67.83|

#### Selangor

[edit]

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

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| Barisan Nasional| | United Malays National Organisation| 380,021| 58.19| 7| 0
| Malaysian Chinese Association| 2| -1
| Malaysian Indian Congress| 2| 0
Total| 11| -1
| Democratic Action Party| 145,996| 22.36| 3| +1
| Semangat 46| 114,683| 17.56| 0| New
| Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party| 12,358| 1.89| 0| 0
Total| 653,058| 100.00| 14| 0
Valid votes| 653,058| 96.88|
Invalid/blank votes| 21,001| 3.12|
Total votes| 674,059| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 922,615| 73.06|

#### Terengganu

[edit]

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

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| Barisan Nasional| | United Malays National Organisation| 141,561| 54.11| 6| -2
| Semangat 46| 62,006| 23.70| 1| New
| Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party| 57,488| 21.97| 1| +1
| Independents| 565| 0.22| 0| 0
Total| 261,620| 100.00| 8| 0
Valid votes| 261,620| 97.37|
Invalid/blank votes| 7,063| 2.63|
Total votes| 268,683| 100.00|
Registered voters/turnout| 326,393| 82.32|

## See also

[edit]

* 1990 Malaysian state elections

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party

## 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. ^ Francis Kok-Wah Loh; Francis Loh Kok Wah; Boo Teik Khoo; Khoo Boo Teik (2002). Democracy in Malaysia: Discourses and Practices. Routledge. p. 95\. ISBN 0-7007-1161-9.
3. ^ Khong, (1991) Malaysia's General Election 1990: Continuity, Change, and Ethnic Politics, p1 ISBN 981-3035-77-3

* Arah Aliran Malaysia: Penilaian Pilihan Raya satu himpunan kerta kertas 62-halaman daripada Institut Penyelidikan Asia Tenggara selepas pilihan raya 1999.

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