The 15th Penang state election was held on 12 August 2023 to elect the State Assembly members of the 15th Penang State Legislative Assembly, the legislature of the Malaysian state of Penang.
Penang is one of the states which did not dissolve simultaneously with Dewan Rakyat on 10 October 2022. It was decided by Pakatan Harapan on 15 October 2022.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) – Pakatan Harapan (PH) electoral pact won 29 of 40 seats, with PH winning a standalone majority of 27 seats and BN winning 2 seats. The Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition won the remaining 11 seats to become the main opposition in the state assembly.
Background
In the 2018 general election, Pakatan Harapan won the state of Penang, winning 37 out of the 40 state seats. Despite the Sheraton Move occurring in the beginning of 2020, the various changes during the 2020 - 2022 Malaysian political crisis did not affect the politics at the state level, allowing the Pakatan Harapan state government to continue to govern.
On 6 August 2020, the Chief Minister of Penang, Chow Kon Yeow, reiterated his stance that all states that have a Pakatan Harapan government, including Penang, would not dissolve the state assemblies in order to coincide with a snap general election. This was because at the time, the Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan state governments had a stable majority. The Pakatan Harapan leadership further emphasised that there would not be a dissolution of assembly in 2021 and 2022, citing various factors, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the need for the state governments to complete a full term, and the possibility of various factors which might inconvenience people should the state elections be called at the wrong time, such as floods, ahead of the 2022 Malaysian general election.
On 10 October 2022, Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved Parliament, resulting in a snap general election being held in Malaysia on 19 November 2022. Traditionally, every state in Malaysia except Sarawak would hold their state elections concurrently with the general election for the sake of convenience, but since 2020, several Malaysian states held state elections separately from the general election, with Sabah on 26 September 2020, Malacca on 20 November 2021, Sarawak on 18 December 2021 and Johor on 12 March 2022. With the exception of Perlis, Perak and Pahang holding state elections during the 2022 Malaysian general election, all other states, including Penang, will hold their state elections in 2023.
Constituencies All 40 constituencies within Penang, which constitute the Penang State Legislative Assembly, were contested during the election.
Composition before dissolution GovernmentConfidence and supplyOppositionPHBNPN33211912221DAPPKRAMANAHUMNOPAS
Timeline The key dates are listed below. DateEvent15 October 2022Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council decided against dissolving the 14th Penang State Legislative Assembly.28 June 2023Dissolution of the Penang State Legislative Assembly.5 July 2023Issue of the Writ of Election29 July 2023Nomination Day29 July–11 August 2023Campaigning Period8–11 August 2023Early Polling Day For Postal, Overseas and Advance Voters 12 August 2023Polling Day
Retiring incumbent The following members of the 14th State Legislative Assembly do not contest this election. No.State ConstituencyDeparting MLACoalition (Party)Date confirmedFirst electedReasonN06Telok Ayer TawarMustafa Kamal AhmadPH (PKR)18 July 20232018Not seeking re-election.N36Pantai JerejakSaifuddin Nasution Ismail Not contesting state election. (Senator)N3Pinang TunggalAhmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman22 July 2023Dropped by party.N12PenantiNorlela Ariffin2013N20Sungai BakapAmar Pritpal Abdullah2018N24Kebun BungaJason Ong Khan Lee2008N37Batu MaungAbdul Halim Hussain2018N7Sungai PuyuPhee Boon PohPH (DAP)25 July 20231990Dropped by party.N8Bagan JermalSoon Lip Chee2013N15Padang LalangChong Eng1995N16PeraiRamasamy Palanisamy2008N34Paya TerubongYeoh Soon HinN32Seri DelimaSyerleena Abdul Rashid2018 Not contesting state election (MP for Bukit Bendera).N25Pulau TikusChris Lee Chun Kit Not contesting state election.N5Sungai DuaMuhamad Yusoff Mohd NoorBN (UMNO)21 July 2023 2013Dropped by party.N10Seberang JayaAfif Bahardin6 March 20232013 Transferred to Taman Medan (Selangor).N40Telok BahangZolkifly Mohd Lazim2018 Dropped by party.
Electoral candidates Names in bold are the confirmed winners in the 2023 state election. No.Parliamentary ConstituencyNo.State ConstituencyVotersIncumbent State AssemblymenCoalition (Party)Political coalitions and partiesBarisan Nasional + Pakatan HarapanPerikatan Nasional
MUDA + PSM electoral pactOther parties/IndependentsCandidate namePartyCandidate namePartyCandidate namePartyCandidate namePartyCandidate namePartyP041Kepala BatasN01Penaga25,468Mohd Yusni Mat PiahMohd Naim SallehUMNOMohd Yusni Mat PiahPASN02Bertam23,999VacantThe seat was won by Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq in the 2018 Penang state election as a candidate of Pakatan Harapan (BERSATU). BERSATU exited PH in March 2020, and created a new coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN). Khaliq was vacated from his seat in an approved motion in the Penang state assembly on 6 March 2023.Reezal Merican Naina MericanUMNOKhaliq Mehtab Mohd IshaqBERSATUN03Pinang Tunggal34,723Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul RahmanPH (PKR)Zainuddin MohamadPKRBukhori GhazaliPASP042Tasek GelugorN04Permatang Berangan28,519Nor Hafizah OthmanBN (UMNO)Nor Hafizah OthmanUMNOMohamad Sobri SalehPASN05Sungai Dua28,100Muhamad Yusoff Mohd NoorBN (UMNO)Shaik Hussein MydinUMNOMuhammad Fauzi YusoffPASN06Telok Ayer Tawar24,784Mustafa Kamal AhmadPH (PKR)Mohsein Md ShariffPKRAzmi AlangBERSATUP043BaganN07Sungai Puyu35,904Phee Boon PohPH (DAP)Phee Syn TzeDAPAndrew Teow Chin SiangPASN08Bagan Jermal32,529Soon Lip CheePH (DAP)Chee Yeeh KeenDAPOng Chuan JinBERSATUN09Bagan Dalam21,221Satees MuniandyPH (DAP)Kumaran KrishnanDAPJayaraman Kunchu KannuPASS. RajasakananPFPSatees MuniandyINDP044Permatang PauhN10Seberang Jaya49,215VacantThe seat was won by Afif Bahardin in the 2018 Penang state election as a candidate of Pakatan Harapan (PKR). He later exited PH and PKR in March 2020, and joined BERSATU and Perikatan Nasional (PN). Afif was vacated from his seat in an approved motion in the Penang state assembly on 6 March 2023.Johari KassimPKRIzhar Shah Arif ShahBERSATUN11Permatang Pasir30,464Muhammad Faiz FadzilPH (AMANAH)Muhammad Faiz FadzilAMANAHAmir Hamzah Abdul HashimPASN12Penanti28,170Norlela AriffinPH (PKR)Rohsidi HussainPKRZulkifli BakarBERSATUP045Bukit MertajamN13Berapit29,076Heng Lee LeePH (DAP)Heng Lee LeeDAPLee Kok KeongGERAKANN14Machang Bubok56,538Lee Khai LoonPH (PKR)Lee Khai LoonPKRTan Hum WeiGERAKANN15Padang Lalang36,001Chong EngPH (DAP)Gooi Zi SenDAPSuresh Devaraj NaiduBERSATUOoi Khar GiapPFPP046Batu KawanN16Perai20,479Ramasamy PalanisamyPH (DAP)Sundarajoo SomuDAPSivasuntaram RajalinggamGERAKANVikneswary HarikrishnanDavid MarshelINDN17Bukit Tengah31,635Gooi Hsiao LeungPH (PKR)Gooi Hsiao LeungPKRBaljit Singh Jigiri SinghGERAKANN18Bukit Tambun37,496Goh Choon AikPH (PKR)Goh Choon AikPKRTan Gia WeiGERAKANSomuganathan Muniandy INDP047Nibong TebalN19Jawi36,601H’ng Mooi LyePH (DAP)H’ng Mooi LyeDAPSteven Koh Tien YewPASN20Sungai Bakap38,409Amar Pritpal AbdullahPH (PKR)Nurhidayah Che RusPKRNor Zamri LatiffPASN21Sungai Acheh26,095VacantThe seat was won by Zulkifli Ibrahim in the 2018 Penang state election as a candidate of Pakatan Harapan (PKR). He later exited PH and PKR in March 2020, and joined BERSATU and Perikatan Nasional (PN). Zulkifli was vacated from his seat in an approved motion in the Penang state assembly on 6 March 2023.Rashidi ZinolUMNOZulkifli IbrahimBERSATUP048Bukit BenderaN22Tanjong Bunga29,477Zairil Khir JohariPH (DAP)Zairil Khir JohariDAPHng Chee WeyGERAKANLee Chui WahPRMN23Air Putih15,371Lim Guan EngPH (DAP)Lim Guan EngDAPKoh Cheng AnnGERAKANTeh Yee CheuPRMN24Kebun Bunga24,532Jason Ong Khan LeePH (PKR)Lee Boon HengPKRTan Zhen ZuneGERAKANRazalif Mohamad ZainINDN25Pulau Tikus23,257Chris Lee Chun KitPH (DAP)Woo Sze ZengDAPTang Ching SernGERAKANGoh Chuin LoonPRMP049TanjongN26Padang Kota15,165Chow Kon YeowPH (DAP)Chow Kon YeowDAPH'ng Khoon LengGERAKANN27Pengkalan Kota21,568Gooi Zi SenPH (DAP)Wong Yuee HarngDAPSuthakaran SubramaniamGERAKANN28Komtar15,532Teh Lai HengPH (DAP)Teh Lai HengDAPCheah Kim HuatBERSATUP050JelutongN29Datok Keramat26,791Jagdeep Singh DeoPH (DAP)Jagdeep Singh DeoDAPHeng See LinGERAKANN30Sungai Pinang34,416Lim Siew KhimPH (DAP)Lim Siew KhimDAPNg Fook OnGERAKANAbdul Ghani HaroonPRMAndrew RajahINDN31Batu Lancang33,106Ong Ah TeongPH (DAP)Ong Ah TeongDAPMohd Aswaad JaafarGERAKANP051Bukit GelugorN32Seri Delima31,574Syerleena Abdul RashidPH (DAP)Tan Hooi PengDAPMohan ApparooBERSATUN33Air Itam23,085Joseph Ng Soon SeongPH (DAP)Joseph Ng Soon SeongDAPCheang Chee GooiGERAKANN34Paya Terubong62,734Yeoh Soon HinPH (DAP)Wong Hon WaiDAPOoi Ghee OonGERAKANP052Bayan BaruN35Batu Uban43,529Kumaresan AramugamPH (PKR)Kumaresan AramugamPKRMok Kok OnGERAKANLee Kim NoorN36Pantai Jerejak29,890Saifuddin Nasution IsmailPH (PKR)Fahmi ZainolPKROh Tong KeongGERAKANPriyankaa Loh Siang PinRavinder SinghPRMN37Batu Maung47,226Abdul Halim HussainPH (PKR)Mohamad Abdul HamidPKRAzahari ArisBERSATUP053Balik PulauN38Bayan Lepas39,754Azrul Mahathir AzizPH (AMANAH)Azrul Mahathir AzizAMANAHDominic Lau Hoe ChaiGERAKANN39Pulau Betong23,838Mohd Tuah IsmailPH (PKR)Mohd Tuah IsmailPKRMohamad Shukor ZakariahPASN40Telok Bahang17,927VacantThe seat was won by Zolkifly Mohd Lazim in the 2018 Penang state election as a candidate of Pakatan Harapan (BERSATU). BERSATU exited PH in March 2020, and created a new coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN). Zolkifly was vacated from his seat in an approved motion in the Penang state assembly on 6 March 2023.Ahmad Zaki Shah Shah HeadanUMNOMuhamad KasimBERSATU
Opinion polls Polling firm Dates conductedSample sizePH+BNPNOthLeadRefIlham Centre29 July – 8 August 20232,30464%36%0%PH+BN +28%
Results
By parliamentary constituency PH+BN won 9 of 13 parliamentary constituency by average percentages. No.ConstituencyPakatan Harapan + Barisan NasionalPerikatan NasionalMember of Parliament42.39%57.61%37.17%62.83%P043Bagan85.71%14.29%Lim Guan Eng42.81%57.19%P045Bukit Mertajam80.66%19.34%Steven Sim Chee KeongP046Batu Kawan78.04%21.95%Chow Kon YeowP047Nibong Tebal61.45%38.55%Fadhlina SidekP048Bukit Bendera84.93%15.07%Syerleena Abdul RashidP049Tanjong90.46%9.54%Lim Hui YingP050Jelutong71.75%22.25%RSN RayerP051Bukit Gelugor86.34%13.66%Ramkarpal SinghP052Bayan Baru67.16%32.84%Sim Tze Tzin49.91%50.09%Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik
Seats that changed allegiance No. Seat Previous Party (2018) Current Party (2022) N02 Bertam Pakatan Harapan (BERSATU) Barisan Nasional (UMNO) N03 Pinang Tunggal Pakatan Harapan (PKR) Perikatan Nasional (PAS) N04 Permatang Berangan Barisan Nasional (UMNO) Perikatan Nasional (PAS) N05 Sungai Dua Barisan Nasional (UMNO) Perikatan Nasional (PAS) N06 Telok Ayer Tawar Pakatan Harapan (PKR) Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) N10 Seberang Jaya Pakatan Harapan (PKR) Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) N11 Permatang Pasir Pakatan Harapan (AMANAH) Perikatan Nasional (PAS) N12 Penanti Pakatan Harapan (PKR) Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) N20 Sungai Bakap Pakatan Harapan (PKR) Perikatan Nasional (PAS) N21 Sungai Acheh Pakatan Harapan (PKR) Barisan Nasional (UMNO) N39 Pulau Betong Pakatan Harapan (PKR) Perikatan Nasional (PAS) N40 Telok Bahang Pakatan Harapan (BERSATU) Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU)
Notes
References