PILIHAN RAYA KECIL (PRK) DUN SLIM, PERAK 2020: STATUS QUO GEOPOLITIK BN DI ERA PENULARAN WABAK PANDEMIK COVID-19

Abstract

The Slim, Perak By Election, 2020 is the second by election, the 12th after GE-14, which was held in a situation where the COVID-19 pandemic was still going on but heading for recovery. The by election was held following the death of the incumbent Slim ADUN, Dato’ Seri Mohd. Khusairi Abdul Talib on 15 July 2020 due to a heart attack. The Slim state constituency located in the Tanjung Malim Parliament, Perak can be categorized as the strongest stronghold of BN/UMNO because only BN/UMNO won in the state constituency during the 14 elections. This area has a demographic majority of 84 percent Malay voters which is surrounded by rural areas including FELDA scheme areas, traditional Malay villages, Indian estates and Chinese towns. Therefore, the purpose of writing this article is to analyze the geopolitical status quo of BN in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Slim, Perak 2020 by election. Based on the analysis of Slim 2020 by election results data, field observations and analysis of secondary sources such as journal articles and conference papers, the findings show that BN/UMNO’s victory in the by election is indeed expected because the area is a stronghold of BN/UMNO, no major political parties contesting, stability under BN leadership, peace under BN rule, Malay ethnic geopolitics with BN/UMNO, the support of the core voters namely from UMNO people, well-known BN candidates and is a local leader and low turnout. Thus, this election shows that BN/UMNO is still popular in the area with a big victory.