INTERACTIVE: Malaysia to have held 10 state elections since GE15

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI

PETALING JAYA: With Melaka set to go to the polls on Nov 14, Malaysia will have held 10 state elections since the 15th General Election (GE15).

This is the highest number of state election events recorded in any period between general elections, according to an analysis of election data.

Since GE15 on Nov 19, 2022, Malaysia has held nine state election events and 13 by-elections as at Aug 1 this year. 

Melaka's upcoming election will bring the number of state election events to 10.

The figure stands out against previous periods. 

The nine state election events since GE15 comprised six state elections held simultaneously on Aug 12, 2023, followed by Sabah's state election in 2025 and the Johor and Negri Sembilan state elections this year.

The six states that went to the polls in 2023 were Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.

Negri Sembilan stands out for having held two state elections between GE15 and the next general election.

The state held its 15th state election on Aug 12, 2023, before returning to the polls for its 16th state election on Aug 1 this year.

The period between the 14th and 15th general elections (GE14 and GE15) and between GE6 and GE7, each period recorded four state election events, the second-highest in the dataset.

The results maintained the GE15 political balance, with the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) pact retaining Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang, while Perikatan Nasional (PN) held on to Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.

The staggered schedule followed the decision by six state governments not to dissolve their assemblies alongside Parliament in October 2022. 

Only Pahang, Perlis and Perak held their state elections concurrently with GE15 in November that year.

The analysis also provides a longer historical perspective on state elections held separately from general elections, beginning with the first state election in Sabah on April 8, 1967.

The Sabah Alliance, comprising the United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) and Sabah Chinese Association (SCA), won 19 of the 32 seats contested, securing a simple majority to form the state government.

Meanwhile, by-elections have followed a different historical pattern.

Since GE15, 13 by-elections have been held with six took place in 2023, four in 2024, one in 2025 and two this year.

The two by-elections this year were in the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat and Lamag seat.

Both state by-elections were held following the death of their incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, on Dec 5 last year.

Historically, the period between the fourth and fifth general elections (GE4 and GE5) recorded the highest number of by-elections, at 29, followed by 28 between GE5 and GE6.

The 13 by-elections recorded since GE15 remain below those historical peaks, although the current period is not yet complete.

Check on the table below for a breakdown of state elections and by-elections held between general elections:

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