Dari Barisan ke Pakatan: Berubahnya dinamiks Pilihan Raya Umum Kuala Lumpur 1955-2013 (From Barisan to Pakatan: The changing dynamics of Kuala Lumpur general elections 1955-2013)

Abstract

Perkembangan dan proses politik demokrasi di Kuala Lumpur telah bermula seawal tahun 1952 apabila berlangsungnya Pilihan Raya Municipal yang ketiga dan diikuti Pilihan Raya Perundangan Persekutuan 1955 berikutan inisiatif kerajaan British memberi peluang kepada pemimpin-pemimpin tempatan Tanah Melayu ke arah berkerajaan sendiri. Dari segi geopolitik, Kuala Lumpur, amat penting bagi mana-mana parti politik terutamanya yang memerintah kerana ia merupakan powerhouse negara di mana tempat letaknya Parlimen Malaysia dan menjadi lokasi cabang utama eksekutif dan kehakiman kerajaan Persekutuan sejak sekian lama. Sehingga pertengahan 1960- an, Kuala Lumpur menjadi kubu kuat parti-parti pembangkang berfahaman sosialis yang mendominasi politik demokrasi tetapi peningkatan faham perkauman menyaksikan kebangkitan parti-parti pembangkang berasaskan bukan Melayu seperti DAP dan Gerakan. Di Kuala Lumpur prestasi pilihanraya parti Perikatan (kini Barisan Nasional/BN) mengalami arus naik turun sepanjang lima dekad sejarah pihanraya umum . Ia memenangi kedua-dua kerusi parlimen pada 1955, satu darpada lima pada 1959, tiga daripada lima pada 1964 , satu daripada sebelas pada 2008 dan dua daripada sebelas pada 2013. Ia kehilangan kesemua lima kerusi pada 1969 , dua daripada lima masingmasing pada 1974, 1978 dan 1982, tiga daripada tujuh masing masing pada 1986 dan 1990, enam daripada sepuluh masing-masing pada 1995 dan 1999, tujuh daripada sebelas pada 2004, sepuluh daripada sebelas pada 2008 dan 9 daripada 11 pada 2013, lantas mencerminkan betapa radikalnya perubahan dinamiks dalam lima dekad politik pilihanraya umum Kuala Lumpur.

Katakunci: dinamiks pilihanraya, geopolitik, kerajaan, parlimen, perkauman, Pilihan Raya Umum

Development and democratic political processes in Kuala Lumpur had started as early as 1952 when the third Municipal Election was held. This was followed by Federal Legislative Election 1955 in the wake of the British government's initiative to open up opportunities for Malaya’s local leaders to forge towards self-government. In geopolitical terms the vital importance of Kuala Lumpur is self evident for any political parties especially the ruling party as it is an electoral ‘powerhouse’ in which is located the iconic Malaysian Parliament and the headquarters of other executive and judicial branches of the Federal government. Until the mid-1960s, Kuala Lumpur had been the stronghold of socialist opposition parties but the subsequent ascendance of race-based mainstream politics has witnessed the rise of non-Malay-based opposition parties such as the DAP and Gerakan. The electoral performance of the ruling Alliance (now BN) has waxed and waned during the course of the thirteen GEs. It won all the two parliamentary seats in 1955, one of five in 1959, three of five in 1964, one of eleven in 2008 and two of eleven in 2013. It lost all five seats in 1969, two of five in 1974, 1978 and 1982 respectively, three of seven in 1986 and 1990 respectively, six of ten in 1995 and 1999 respectively, seven of eleven in 2004, ten of eleven in 2008 and 9 of 11 in 2013, thus reflecting the radically changing dynamics of five decades of Kuala Lumpur electoral politics.

Keywords: electoral dynamics, general elections, geopolitics, government, parliament, racism