This by-election has all the superlatives, and certainly the whole world watched it, for the following reasons:
- the battle for the future of 27 million Malaysians and its future generations.
- the first electoral test of the Barisan Nasional-led Federal Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi since the disastrous results of the March 8 polls, hence it is a test of Abdullah’s legitimacy which he must pass
- the BN needed to prove that it has heard the voice of the rakyat and remains the best choice of government.
- Anwar had said that victory in Permatang Pauh would be his first step towards being Prime Minister

At 10.05pm on the 26th of August 2008, the EC has announced the official results, during which Arif Shah was conspicuously absent. It was reported that the Prime Minister left Penang for Kuala Lumpur at 4.30pm, hence indicating that defeat was imminent.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, 61: 31,195
YB Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, 51, incumbent state assemblyman for Seberang Jaya: 15,524
Hanafi “Haji Pi” Hamat (Akim – Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia president; has real estate, hardware and agriculture machinery businesses; was PAS member but left in 1995), 61, father of 12: 92
Majority: 15,671
Turnout: 81.1%, which was amazingly a bit higher (by 12) than during the March General Elections!

Even Hanafi’s “lucky ring” could not help him break the century barrier

In the March general elections, Dr Wan Azizah won it by a 13,388 majority, defeating Umno’s Datuk Pirdaus Ismail. She then quit the seat on 31st July to make way for a by-election.

Anwar last won the Permatang Pauh seat 13 years ago in 1995 with a majority of 23,515 votes.

During nomination day on 16th August, PKR, for “strategic contingency” / “safety net” got PKR Balik Pulau head Dr Mansor Othman to be nominated as an independent candidate, just in case Anwar was “unreasonably and unjustly disqualified”. When Anwar proved successful during nomination, Mansor announced his withdrawal, hence of course RM15,000 poorer.

Quotes:

At 10.52am, third candidate Hanafi Hamat (AKIM) said : “I think I have chance to win.” In the end, he got less than 100 and hence lost the RM15,000 deposit. Even Arif Shah got >15,000 more than him.

At 8.08am, BN’s Arif Shah said after casting his vote, with a beaming smile: “I voted at 8.08am as eight is a good number for me.” By 2.30pm a worried sounding Arif Shah “urged voters to come out to vote.” As late as 5.26pm, he said he’s “still confident of taking the seat. ”

Interviewed on 24th August, Hanafi Hamat said:

I sincerely believe that people are disgusted and fed up with all the mudslinging between these parties – their style of campaigning is too much because it incites hatred. This is not our culture. Barisan and PKR may seem strong but they are rapuh (crumbling) because they practise the politics of hate. They want and need what we offer – harmony and peace between all races in the context of Islam. I may not be from here but I am confident I will get the support of the locals because the basic ideology of Akim is applicable in all states and constituencies.

Here’s a video of Hanafi being interviewed by Malaysiakini on 21st August (by this time you should’ve realised that I like rooting for underdogs):

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