It was a year of political twists and turns, marked by shifting alliances, by-elections and continued calls for a former prime minister's freedom from jail.

These events not only shaped the headlines, but also sparked debates on justice and governance.

As tension between legal outcomes and political strategies became the defining theme of 2024, Malaysia's political developments raised critical questions on the country's way forward and tested alliances of the unity government ahead of a series of state elections starting next year.

CHANGING ALLEGIANCES

This year saw several high-profile realignments, with former Tanjong Karang member of parliament Tan Sri Noh Omar leaving Umno to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia on July 4.

He was expelled from the party on Jan 27 last year, after challenging Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to sack him when his membership was initially suspended for six years.

Another development that took centre stage was the six Bersatu MPs, referred to as the "Bersatu 6", being kicked out of their party after pledging support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The six are Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan) and Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang).

Despite their expulsion from Bersatu, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul declared that their parliamentary seats need not be vacated, prompting Bersatu to file a suit challenging Johari's decision.

Alliances also shifted among political parties, with the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) exiting Perikatan Nasional.

SAPP cited commitment to Sabah's autonomy as the reason for its withdrawal from the coalition, following PN's plans to contest in the next state election.

This went against the party's long-standing policy that all 73 state seats must be contested by a Sabah party.

On the other side, Sabah's ruling coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah had hinted that it would likely continue its partnership with Sabah Pakatan Harapan.

A late addition to the political twist was the rumour that an Umno supreme council member had held discussions to join PKR.

Anwar, who is PKR president, had confirmed the preliminary talks, emphasising the need to handle such a transition carefully to maintain harmony within the unity government, of which PKR and Umno are a part of.

ROYAL ADDENDUM

The "royal addendum" involving Datuk Seri Najib Razak continued to be a hot-button topic, despite the High Court on July 3 having ruled that the affidavits filed on the matter were hearsay.

The addendum, which supposedly was to grant the incarcerated former prime minister house arrest, purportedly detailed terms under which he could serve the remainder of his already-halved six-year prison sentence at home.

Najib, 71, has been imprisoned since Aug 23, 2022, after the Federal Court upheld his conviction for misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

On Dec 28, the Attorney-General's Chambers said any application for a royal pardon, including Najib's, must be submitted to the Pardons Board chair through the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The Pardons Board, it said, would follow procedures and channels established by law in making its decision.

ELECTION WINS AND LOSSES

There were multiple by-elections this year, each prompted by unique circumstances and yielding significant political outcomes.

Of the four by-elections called this year, the PH-Barisan Nasional partnership won three, and lost one to PN.

The first by-election was triggered in Kuala Kubu Baharu in May, following the death of PH assemblywoman Lee Kee Hiong.

The seat remained in the hands of the PH-BN unity coalition with DAP's Pang Sock Tao emerging victorious.

Pang won by 3,869 votes in the four-cornered fight, a slight drop in majority to Lee's 4,119.

The next by-election was held in Sungai Bakap on July 6 after the death of its assemblyman, Pas' Nor Zamri Latiff.

PN retained the seat after its candidate Abidin Ismail secured a comfortable victory with a 4,455 vote-majority.

In Kelantan, the Nenggiri state seat by-election was held after its incumbent, Mohd Azizi Abu Naim of Bersatu, was disqualified after expressing his support for the Madani government.

BN capitalised on the opportunity with its candidate, Kelantan Umno Youth chief Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, securing a commanding win in the Aug 18 polls.

The Mahkota by-election in Johor was held on Sept 28, 2024, following the death of Umno's representative Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2.

BN candidate Syed Hussein Syed Abdullah secured a decisive victory, obtaining 27,995 votes, resulting in a grand majority of 20,648 votes over PN candidate Mohamad Haizan Jaafar, who received 7,347 votes.

This outcome underscored BN's sustained influence in Johor, with the party maintaining a substantial majority in the state assembly, holding 40 out of 56 seats.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2024/12/1154691/elections-shifting-alliances-marked-politics