Voters increased mostly in PR held seats and a few BN seats...

A spike in the number of voters has not just been recorded in seats held by Pakatan Rakyat, but also in Umno's parliamentary constituencies of Gua Musang and Pekan, among others under the BN.


These are among 17 parliamentary constituencies with more than 20 percent rise in the number of voters since the 2008 general election.

The increase, which is well above the national average of 13.8 percent, is revealed in the electoral roll updated as at the last quarter of 2011.

Of the 17 seats, nine were won by Pakatan in the 12th general election - Bukit Gantang (retained by Pakatan in a by-election in 2009), Gopeng, Hulu Selangor (but regained by BN in a by-election in 2010), Selayang, Hulu Langat, Serdang, Puchong, Subang and Kota Raja.

Seven seats are in Pakatan Rakyat-ruled Selangor, three in Perak and Johor respectively, two in Pahang and one each in Kelantan and the Federal Territory of Putrajaya.
 
The spike in Gua Musang and Pekan comes as a surprise, as both constituencies are located in rural areas with slow population growth. In addition, these are BN strongholds where stiff political competition is not anticipated.

In Gua Musang, located in PAS-ruled Kelantan, the number of voters has gone up by 8,273, or by 28.5 percent over the last three years, pushing up the total from 28,986 to 37,259.
 
It has been represented by Umno veteran and former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah since 1969. He retained it in 2008 with a majority of 4,394 votes, to register his ninth term as a parliamentarian.

Some grassroots Umno leaders in Gua Musang have urged Razaleigh to stop contesting the constituency, claiming that he no longer has influence. He has also supported the opposition on certain issues such as oil royalty payment to Kelantan and the Felda listing.

In Pekan, the rise in voter numbers began early last year. This is a rural town dotted with some heavy-industry factories. As at Dec 31, 2011, it had 76,741 voters, a stunning leap of 18,524 or 31.8 percent since 2008.

The seat has been in Umno president Najib Abdul Razak's firm grasp after he succeeded his father, Abdul Razak Hussein. Yet, Najib only managed to squeeze through in 1999 with a slim 241-vote majority.

His majority bounced back in the 2004 general election to 22,922 votes, and climbed to 26,464 votes in 2008.

Where the spikes are

Putrajaya , held by Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, tops the list for growth in voter numbers, at 81 percent. This is likely due to more civil servants having changed their voting location to the administrative capital.

The Tebrau constituency, where the increase exceeds 30 percent, is held by MCA parliamentarian Teng Boon Soon who will not contest the next general election. This urban constituency, which covers part of Johor Bahru city, is expected to be a key battlefield in Johor.

At state level, Pahang (17.9 percent), Selangor (17.3 percent), Johor (15.6 percent), Kelantan and Negeri Sembilan (14.1 percent each) have registered an increase that is higher than the national average.

The lowest rates of increase are in Sabah (10.6 percent), Kuala Lumpur (10.4 percent) and Perlis (9.2 percent).

Pakatan has been monitoring changes of voter numbers in its constituencies, claiming that the unusual spike in rural areas may due to cheating or organised transfer of voters to support BN in the next general election.
 
However the Election Commission has explained that this is a normal trend because Malaysians tend to register as voters at the eleventh hour.- malaysiakini

Lonjakan pengundi turut berlaku di kerusi BN

Lonjakan mendadak bilangan pengundi bukan sahaja berlaku di kerusi yang diwakili Pakatan Rakyat, tetapi juga di kerusi BN, antaranya Parlimen Gua Musang dan Pekan.

Ia adalah antara 17 kawasan parlimen yang mencatatkan peningkatan lebih daripada 20 peratus bilangan pengundi sejak pilihan raya umum 2008.

Peningkatan tersebut, yang melebihi purata nasional sebanyak 13.8 peratus, dikesan dalam daftar pemilih yang dikemaskini pada suku akhir 2011.

Daripada 17 kerusi tersebut, sembilan dimenangi Pakatan dalam pilihan raya umum lalu - Bukit Gantang (kekal disandang Pakatan dalam pilihan raya kecil pada 2009), Gopeng, Hulu Selangor (dirampas kembali BN dalam pilihan raya kecil pada 2010), Selayang, Hulu Langat, Serdang, Puchong, Subang dan Kota Raja.

Tujuh lagi kerusi ialah di negeri Selangor yang ditadbir Pakatan, masing-masing tiga di Perak dan Johor, dua di Pahang dan masing-masing satu di Kelantan dan Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya.

Lonjakan bilangan pengundi di Gua Musang dan Pekan dilihat sebagai satu kejutan, kerana kedua-dua kawasan pilihan raya itu terletak di kawasan luar bandar dengan pertumbuhan penduduk yang perlahan. Di samping itu, ia merupakan kubu kuat BN yang dijangka tidak berdepan dengan persaingan politik yang sengit.

Di Gua Musang, yang terletak di negeri Kelantan yang ditadbir oleh PAS, bilangan pengundinya telah bertambah sebanyak 8,273 orang atau 28.5 peratus dalam tempoh tiga tahun yang lalu, menjadi jumlah pengundi keseluruhannya meningkat daripada 28,986 kepada 37,259 orang.

Ia telah diwakili pemimpin veteran Umno dan bekas menteri
kewangan Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah sejak tahun 1969. Beliau mengekalkan kerusi itu pada 2008 dengan majoriti 4,394 undi, untuk penggal kesembilan sebagai ahli parlimen.

Beberapa pemimpin akar umbi Umno di Gua Musang telah menggesa Tengku Razaleigh berhenti bertanding di situ, dengan mendakwa beliau tidak lagi mempunyai pengaruh. Beliau juga telah menyokong pembangkang dalam isu-isu tertentu seperti bayaran royalti minyak kepada Kelantan dan penyenaraian Felda.

 Di Pekan pula, peningkatan bilangan pengundi bermula awal tahun lepas. Ini adalah sebuah pekan luar bandar yang dipenuhi dengan kilang industri berat. Pada 31 Disember 2011, ia mempunyai 76,741 pengundi - lonjakan yang menakjubkan seramai 18,524 orang atau 31.8 peratus sejak 2008.

Kerusi ini diwakili Presiden Umno Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak selepas beliau menggantikan bapanya, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.

Najib memenangi kerusi itu pada tahun 1999 dengan majoriti tipis 241 undi. 

Tetapi jumlah majoriti itu naik semula dalam pilihan raya umum 2004 kepada 22,922 undi, dan meningkat lagi kepada 26,464 undi pada tahun 2008.- malaysiakini


cheers.