From hero to zero - Dr M's GTA didn't retain any of their deposits

To the Chinese, 168 is an auspicious number because it is phonetically similar to the phrase "prosperity all the way" in their language.

To the Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) coalition, 168 is the total number of deposits they lost during the general election last night.

A candidate is deemed to have forfeited their deposit (RM10,000 for Parliament, RM5,000 for state) if they fail to secure 12.5 percent of the votes cast.

And there is no greater humiliation for a politician than losing their deposit. Yet there is one party that is getting very good at it.

That party is Pejuang. This party fielded 67 candidates for Parliament seats yesterday and every one of them lost their deposits.

Among them were Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his son, Mukhriz Mahathir. Just four years ago, they were the prime minister and Kedah menteri besar, respectively.

This is the second time Pejuang had lost all its deposits since debuting during the Johor state election in March. At the time, they fielded 42 candidates.

Last night also saw all 33 of Pejuang's state assembly candidates losing their deposits.

Pejuang lost 100 deposits in total - the highest among all parties and likely, one for the record books.

Pejuang, however, is in good company. Its Gabungan Tanah Air (GTA) coalition partners - Berjasa, Putra and Iman also saw all their parliamentary and state candidates lose their deposits as well.

There were 26 parties which fielded candidates for the general election that lost their deposits.

Other parties which lost all their deposits (parliamentary candidates only) are Parti Rakyat Malaysia (16 candidates), Parti Bumi Kenyalang (five), Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (three), Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (one), Parti Utama Rakyat (one), Parti Sosialis Malaysia (one) and Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak (one).

Of the four BN affiliate parties which fielded candidates, there were two which lost their deposits - Indian Progressive Front and Parti Cinta Malaysia, one candidate each - while the other two - Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party and Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kinmma) - did not.

Only nine parties have a clean sheet. Topping the list was Umno (117 candidates) followed by PAS (64) and DAP (55).

All four Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component parties - Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB, 14 candidates), Progressive Democratic Party (PDP, four), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS, six) and Sarawak United People's Party (Supp, seven) - had a clean sheet as well. - Mkini