Introduction

With the 13th general election looming, Democratic Action Party (DAP) supremo and former opposition leader Lim Kit Siang announced as early as mid-March 2013 that he was leaving his seat in Perak to contest in Gelang Patah, Johor, a Barisan Nasional (BN) parliamentary safe seat for the past few elections located right in the strategic heartland of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). In the last two elections, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) had tried to crack the seat, but failed. With this move, Kit Siang hoped he could breach BN's ‘fortress’ Johor, paving the way for Pakatan Rakyat (Pakatan) to take over Putrajaya. The stakes were high: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad exhorted, ‘Johoreans must crush him [Kit Siang] to the end … to ensure it is his last day in politics’ (Mohd Farhan 2013). In turn, Kit Siang upped Mahathir's ante by promising to retire permanently from politics if he lost (Chua 2013).

The BN responded by pitting heavyweight against heavyweight: Kit Siang would face outgoing Mentri Besar (Chief Minister) Dato’ Haji Abdul Ghani Othman, known for his relatively clean reputation, modest personality and eighteen-year record heading the state government. Against the odds, Kit Siang was not ‘crushed’ at Gelang Patah, but won with a convincing 15,000- vote majority against Abdul Ghani. In addition, DAP Johor leader and party stalwart Dr Boo Cheng Hau retained the state seat of Skudai against a Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) challenger, Liang Ah Chye.

At a glance, the overall results appear to signify a rejection of BN-style politics and policies. However, the BN underdog in the rural Nusajaya state legislature (DUN) seat, rookie candidate Dr Haji Zaini Haji Abu Bakar, managed to prevail against Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, the opposition's prime candidate for Johor chief minister. One would have expected the BN to nominate a stronger, proven candidate against Salahuddin if Nusajaya were truly a critical seat to win.

The contrast in these outcomes suggests that while clientelistic networks remain relevant in Gelang Patah, they are no panacea.