1990 Malaysian general election

1990 Malaysian general election
20–21 October 1990
All 180 seats in the Dewan Rakyat
91 seats needed for a majority
Registered7,958,640
  First party Second party Third party
 
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
BN

Prime Minister-designate

Mahathir Mohamad
BN

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

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

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 allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation1,699,94930.3971–12
Malaysian Chinese Association680,04512.1618+1
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu101,0611.8110+2
Malaysian Indian Congress114,7562.0560
United Sabah National Organisation50,2350.906+1
Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia178,3053.1950
Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak22,5900.404–1
Sarawak United Peoples' Party102,6871.8440
Sarawak National Party35,7540.643–1
Total2,985,38253.38127–21
Semangat 46825,21514.758–
Angkatan
Perpaduan Ummah		HAMIM8,6190.15–-1
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party375,8696.727+6
Total1,218,21121.787New
Gagasan RakyatDemocratic Action Party960,84117.1820–4
United Sabah Party128,2602.2914+4
Parti Rakyat Malaysia56,4621.0100
AMIPF32,8950.59–New
Total1,050,19818.7834New
Sarawak Malaysian People's Association27,6180.490New
People's Justice Front12,6550.230New
Sarawak United Labour Party1620.0000
Independents179,2393.2040
Total5,593,217100.00180+3
Valid votes5,593,21796.71
Invalid/blank votes190,1983.29
Total votes5,783,415100.00
Registered voters/turnout7,924,17872.98
Source: Nohlen et al., CLEA, IPU, Tindak Malaysia Github [1]

Total registered voters above refer to total electorate of constituencies. Total electorate of Malaysia including two uncontested constituencies is 7958640.[4] AMIPF candidates contested under DAP banner with the exception of AMIPF candidate of Kuala Selangor (who contested under S46).[5] HAMIM candidate contested under S46 banner.[5]

Semangat 46 is part of Gagasan Rakyat and Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah. Hence, for the table above, it is kept as a separate party.

Rejected Votes is 158498 and Unreturned Ballots is 31700[4]

For the section below, invalid/blank votes includes the count of unreturned ballots. Detailed breakdown is provided under each state section.

By state

Johor

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation288,58741.57120
Malaysian Chinese Association118,19717.0350
Malaysian Indian Congress20,0702.8910
Total426,85461.49180
Semangat 46142,22720.490New
Democratic Action Party104,84015.1000
Parti Rakyat Malaysia17,5832.5300
Independents2,7070.3900
Total694,211100.00180
Valid votes694,21196.07
Invalid/blank votes28,3823.93
Total votes722,593100.00
Registered voters/turnout972,17174.33
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github [2]

Rejected Votes is 26670 and Unreturned ballots is 1712[4]

Kedah

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation258,83453.64120
Malaysian Chinese Association41,8718.6820
Total300,70562.32140
Semangat 4690,38818.730New
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party76,93615.9400
Democratic Action Party5,3601.1100
HAMIM8,6191.790–
Independents5370.1100
Total482,545100.00140
Valid votes482,54596.77
Invalid/blank votes16,1303.23
Total votes498,675100.00
Registered voters/turnout657,32275.86
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github [3]

HAMIM contested under the S46 Banner[5]

Rejected votes is 14838 and Unreturned ballots is 1292[4]

Kelantan

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Semangat 46140,28134.197New
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation134,27932.730-11
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party133,25132.486+5
Independents2,4650.6000
Total410,276100.00130
Valid votes410,27697.28
Invalid/blank votes11,4862.72
Total votes421,762100.00
Registered voters/turnout536,02078.68
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github [4]

Rejected votes is 10173 and Unreturned ballots is 1313[4]

Kuala Lumpur

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation52,82214.8120
Malaysian Chinese Association64,25518.0200
Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia36,64610.2810
Total153,72343.1130
Democratic Action Party141,72439.7540
Semangat 4633,4179.370New
Parti Rakyat Malaysia25,2597.080–
Independents2,4320.6800
Total356,555100.0070
Valid votes356,55597.55
Invalid/blank votes8,9542.45
Total votes365,509100.00
Registered voters/turnout527,83469.25
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github [5]

Rejected votes is 4215 and Unreturned Ballots is 4739[4]

Labuan

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation7,13059.691+1
Independents4,81640.310–1
Total11,946100.0010
Valid votes11,94695.65
Invalid/blank votes5434.35
Total votes12,489100.00
Registered voters/turnout16,38876.21
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github [6]

Rejected votes is 165 and Unreturned Ballots is 378[4]

Malacca

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation81,58840.4230
Malaysian Chinese Association41,94620.7810
Total120,23359.5640
Semangat 4640,32619.980New
Democratic Action Party33,99316.8410
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party4,0191.9900
Total201,872100.0050
Valid votes201,87296.80
Invalid/blank votes6,6673.20
Total votes208,539100.00
Registered voters/turnout265,05978.68
Source: Tindak Malaysia Githb [7]

Rejected votes is 6284 and Unreturned Ballots is 383[4]

Negeri Sembilan

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation77,00530.5040
Malaysian Chinese Association52,74620.892+2
Malaysian Indian Congress22,3678.8610
Total152,11860.257+2
Democratic Action Party49,63319.660-2
Semangat 4641,85716.580New
AMIPF8,8883.520New
Total252,496100.0070
Valid votes252,49696.00
Invalid/blank votes10,5094.00
Total votes263,005100.00
Registered voters/turnout345,46876.13
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github [8]

AMIPF candidate for Negeri Sembilan contested using DAP ticket[5]

Rejected Votes is 7935 and Unreturned Ballots is 2574[4]

Pahang

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation145,61145.1070
Malaysian Chinese Association57,89317.9330
Total203,50463.04100
Semangat 4666,33720.550New
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party29,9609.2800
Democratic Action Party23,0307.1300
Total322,831100.00100
Valid votes322,83195.89
Invalid/blank votes13,8244.11
Total votes336,655100.00
Registered voters/turnout452,99774.32
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github [9]

Rejected votes is 11627 and Unreturned Ballots is 2197[4]

Penang

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation85,31520.3840
Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia87,99821.0210
Malaysian Chinese Association40,2199.6100
Total213,53251.0050
Democratic Action Party170,05340.6160
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party14,3223.4200
Parti Rakyat Malaysia13,6203.2500
Semangat 467,1741.710New
Total418,701100.00110
Valid votes418,70197.39
Invalid/blank votes11,2392.61
Total votes429,940100.00
Registered voters/turnout559,22376.88
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github [10]

Rejected votes is 9371 and Unreturned Ballots is 1868[4]

Perak

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation190,01227.25110
Malaysian Chinese Association118,51317.0030
Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia53,6617.7030
Malaysian Indian Congress29,4424.2220
Total391,62856.17190
Democratic Action Party170,64824.4840
Semangat 4682,97111.9000
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party33,9554.8700
All Malaysian Indian Progressive Front15,4992.22–New
Independents2,5160.3600
Total697,217100.00230
Valid votes697,21796.06
Invalid/blank votes28,6133.94
Total votes725,830100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,031,38070.37
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github [11]

AMIPF candidate contested under DAP banner[5]

Rejected votes is 22514 and Unreturned Votes is 6099[4]

Perlis

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation47,76765.4520
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party13,15418.0200
Semangat 4612,05616.520New
Total72,977100.0020
Valid votes72,97795.59
Invalid/blank votes3,3704.41
Total votes76,347100.00
Registered voters/turnout99,09777.04
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github [12]

Rejected Votes is 2544 and Unreturned Votes is 826[4]

Sabah

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
United Sabah Party128,26042.6714+4
Barisan NasionalUnited Sabah National Organisation50,23516.716+1
Democratic Action Party28,5479.500–4
People's Justice Front12,6554.210New
Independents80,87426.910–1
Total300,571100.00200
Valid votes300,57197.33
Invalid/blank votes8,2402.67
Total votes308,811100.00
Registered voters/turnout523,99558.93
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github [13]

The registered voter turnout refers to total electorate of contested constituencies. Total Electorate of Sabah including one uncontested constituency (Keningau) is 543612.[4]

Rejected Votes is 6527 and Unreturned Ballots is 1713[4]

Sarawak

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalSarawak United Peoples' Party102,68722.3640
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu101,06122.0110+2
Sarawak National Party35,7547.793-2
Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak22,5904.9240
Total262,09257.07210
Democratic Action Party87,01718.952+1
Sarawak Malaysian People's Association27,6186.0100
Sarawak United Labour Party1620.0400
Independents82,32717.934+2
Total459,216100.0027+3
Valid votes459,21697.59
Invalid/blank votes11,3252.41
Total votes470,541100.00
Registered voters/turnout688,21668.37
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github [14]

The registered voter turnout refers to total electorate of contested constituencies. Total electorate of Sarawak including one uncontested constituency (Lubok Antu) is 703061.[4]

Selangor

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation189,43829.0170
Malaysian Chinese Association147,70622.622-1
Malaysian Indian Congress42,8776.5720
Total380,02158.1911-1
Democratic Action Party145,99622.363+1
Semangat 46106,17516.260New
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party12,3581.8900
All Malaysian Indian Progressive Front8,5081.300New
Total653,058100.00140
Valid votes653,05896.60
Invalid/blank votes23,0073.40
Total votes676,065100.00
Registered voters/turnout922,61573.28
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github [15]

AMIPF contested under S46 Banner[5]

Rejected votes is 21001 and Unreturned ballots is 2006[4]

Terengganu

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalUnited Malays National Organisation141,56154.116-2
Semangat 4662,00623.701New
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party57,48821.971+1
Independents5650.2200
Total261,620100.0080
Valid votes261,62097.07
Invalid/blank votes7,9092.93
Total votes269,529100.00
Registered voters/turnout326,39382.58
Source: Tindak Malaysia Github [16]

Rejected votes is 7063 and Unreturned ballot is 846[4]

See also

Notes

References

  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
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/1990-ELECTION-RESULTS/MALAYSIA_1990_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS.csv at main · TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS". GitHub. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f TindakMalaysia. "HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/1990-ELECTION-RESULTS/METADATA/MALAYSIA_1990_PARLIAMENT_RESULTS_METADATA.csv at main · TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS". GitHub. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.