KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has failed to defend his seat in Langkawi and even lost his election deposit after he came in fourth in the five-cornered fight for the constituency in Kedah.
According to the Election Commission’s website, Perikatan Nasional’s Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah had wrested Langkawi with a total of 25,463 votes, a 13,518-vote majority over Barisan Nasional's Armishah Siraj (11,945).
Dr Mahathir had only received 4,566 votes, which was 851 less than the 5,417 ballots for Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Zabidi Yahya – while independent runner Datuk Paduka Abd Kadir had received only 89 out of a total of 66,777 ballots cast.
The 97-year-old Dr Mahathir, who is Pejuang chairman, was the longest-serving prime minister holding office for 22 years from July 1981 until he stepped down in 2003.
Following the 2018 elections, Dr Mahathir returned as prime minister for the second time under PH, after the historic defeat of BN.
In February 2020, Dr Mahathir resigned from the post, paving the way for the infamous Sheraton Move which saw the federal government changing hands to PN.
During his BN years, Dr Mahathir was long-time MP for Kubang Pasu. He stepped back from electoral politics after his first retirement as prime minister in 2003, but returned to stand in Langkawi for the 2018 national polls under PH, winning with an 8,893-vote majority. – The Vibes, November 20, 2022
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