Ismail Kassim
Encyclopedia
Dato' Ismail Kassim is a Malaysian politician and is currently the member of the federal parliament
for the Arau
constituency in Perlis
. He is a member of the governing United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO) party and the brother of the former Chief Minister
of Perlis, Shahidan Kassim
.
Ismail was elected to Parliament in the 2008 Malaysian general election
, defeating his Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) opponent by a 300 vote margin. His predecessor, Syed Razlan Syed Putra, had held the seat with a majority of 3,243. Ismail was previously a member of the Dewan Negara
(Senate). He had contested Arau in a by-election in 1998, but was defeated by Hashim Jasin of PAS. His candidacy in 1998 was marred by accusations of cronyism arising from his brother's position as Menteri Besar of Perlis. At the time, UMNO was bleeding support due to allegations by supporters of UMNO leadership contender Anwar Ibrahim
of cronyism and nepotism within the party. Selecting the brother of the state's Chief Minister as UMNO's candidate did little to neutralise the allegations. Ismail's defeat was the first time that UMNO had lost a parliamentary seat in Perlis to PAS.
Ismail has also served as the head of UMNO's youth wing in Perlis.
|+ Parliament of Malaysia
: Arau
, Perlis
!|Year
!
!|Barisan Nasional
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Opposition
!|Votes
!|Pct
|-
|2008
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |16,451
| |49.4%
|
| |Haron Din (PAS)
| align="right" |16,151
| |48.5%
Parliament of Malaysia
The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The King as the Head of State is the third component of Parliament....
for the Arau
Arau
Arau is the royal capital of Perlis in Malaysia. It is located in Peninsular Malaysia, 14 kilometers southeast of the official state capital of Kangar. The red-roofed Istana is a mixture of colonial and pseudo-Moorish architectural styles...
constituency in Perlis
Perlis
Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia. It lies at the northern part of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and has Satun and Songkhla Provinces of Thailand on its northern border. It is bordered by the state of Kedah to the south...
. He is a member of the governing United Malays National Organisation
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
(UMNO) party and the brother of the former Chief Minister
Menteri Besar
The Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...
of Perlis, Shahidan Kassim
Shahidan Kassim
Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim is a Malaysian politician. He was the Chief Minister of the State of Perlis from 1995 to 2008, and is currently a member of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly for the seat of Tambun Tulang....
.
Ismail was elected to Parliament in the 2008 Malaysian general election
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
, defeating his Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) opponent by a 300 vote margin. His predecessor, Syed Razlan Syed Putra, had held the seat with a majority of 3,243. Ismail was previously a member of the Dewan Negara
Dewan Negara
The Dewan Negara is the upper house of the Parliament of Malaysia. The Dewan Negara consists of 70 members, of which 26 are indirectly elected by the states, with two senators for every state in the Federation, and the other 44 being appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong .The Dewan Negara...
(Senate). He had contested Arau in a by-election in 1998, but was defeated by Hashim Jasin of PAS. His candidacy in 1998 was marred by accusations of cronyism arising from his brother's position as Menteri Besar of Perlis. At the time, UMNO was bleeding support due to allegations by supporters of UMNO leadership contender Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar bin Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician who served as Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998. Early in his career, Anwar was a close ally of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad but subsequently emerged as the most prominent critic of Mahathir's government.In 1999, he was sentenced...
of cronyism and nepotism within the party. Selecting the brother of the state's Chief Minister as UMNO's candidate did little to neutralise the allegations. Ismail's defeat was the first time that UMNO had lost a parliamentary seat in Perlis to PAS.
Ismail has also served as the head of UMNO's youth wing in Perlis.
Election results
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"|+ Parliament of Malaysia
Dewan Rakyat
The Dewan Rakyat is the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. All bills must usually be passed by both the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara , before they are given Royal Assent by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong...
: Arau
Arau
Arau is the royal capital of Perlis in Malaysia. It is located in Peninsular Malaysia, 14 kilometers southeast of the official state capital of Kangar. The red-roofed Istana is a mixture of colonial and pseudo-Moorish architectural styles...
, Perlis
Perlis
Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia. It lies at the northern part of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and has Satun and Songkhla Provinces of Thailand on its northern border. It is bordered by the state of Kedah to the south...
!|Year
!
!|Barisan Nasional
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Opposition
!|Votes
!|Pct
|-
|2008
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |16,451
| |49.4%
|
| |Haron Din (PAS)
| align="right" |16,151
| |48.5%