General elections were held in Malaysia between Saturday, 24 August and Saturday, 14 September 1974.[2] Voting took place in all 154 parliamentary constituencies of Malaysia, each electing one Member of Parliament to the Dewan Rakyat, the dominant house of Parliament. State elections also took place in 360 state constituencies (except Sabah) on the same day. The elections were the first and only general elections for Tun Abdul Razak as Prime Minister following his appointment to the position in 1970. They were also the first general elections for Barisan Nasional (BN), a new political alliance replacing the Alliance Party; with the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (PGRM) and the People's Progressive Party (PPP) joining the parties from the old Alliance.
Once Parliament had been dissolved on 31 July 1974, the Election Commission fixed 8 August 1974, as Nomination Day and 24 August 1974, as Polling Day. Candidates were returned unopposed in 47 constituencies. The 1,060,871 electors from these constituencies therefore did not cast ballots. Another 88 Front members were later successful, thus enabling their alliance to gain an overwhelming majority in the House. This result was a victory for Barisan Nasional which won 135 of the 154 seats. 10 additional Parliament seats was created in the Peninsular Malaysia in 1974.
| Party or alliance | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|
| Barisan Nasional | | United Malays National Organisation | 1,287,400 | 60.81 | 62 | +10 |
| Malaysian Chinese Association | 19 | +6 |
| Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party | 13 | +1 |
| United Sabah National Organisation | 13 | 0 |
| Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu | 8 | New |
| Sarawak United Peoples' Party | 7 | +2 |
| Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia | 5 | –3 |
| Malaysian Indian Congress | 4 | +2 |
| Sabah Chinese Association | 3 | 0 |
| People's Progressive Party | 1 | –3 |
| Total | 135 | +14 |
| Democratic Action Party | 387,845 | 18.32 | 9 | –4 |
| Sarawak National Party | 117,566 | 5.55 | 9 | 0 |
| Malaysian Social Justice Party | 105,718 | 4.99 | 1 | New |
| Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia | 84,206 | 3.98 | 0 | 0 |
| Homeland Consciousness Union | 8,623 | 0.41 | 0 | New |
| Independent People's Progressive Party | 1,356 | 0.06 | 0 | New |
| Independents | 124,202 | 5.87 | 0 | –1 |
| Total | 2,116,916 | 100.00 | 154 | +10 |
|
| Valid votes | 2,116,916 | 95.48 | |
|---|
| Invalid/blank votes | 100,269 | 4.52 | |
|---|
| Total votes | 2,217,185 | 100.00 | |
|---|
| Registered voters/turnout | 2,956,395 | 75.00 | |
|---|
| Source: Nohlen et al., IPU |
| Party or alliance | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|
| Barisan Nasional | | Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia | 15,682 | 13.77 | 0 | 0 |
| United Malays National Organisation | 14,743 | 12.95 | 1 | 0 |
| Malaysian Chinese Association | 9,886 | 8.68 | 0 | 0 |
| Malaysian Indian Congress | 9,763 | 8.58 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 50,074 | 43.98 | 2 | 0 |
| Democratic Action Party | 42,591 | 37.41 | 2 | 0 |
| Malaysian Social Justice Party | 20,504 | 18.01 | 1 | New |
| Independents | 681 | 0.60 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 113,850 | 100.00 | 5 | 0 |
|
| Valid votes | 113,850 | 98.34 | |
|---|
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,919 | 1.66 | |
|---|
| Total votes | 115,769 | 100.00 | |
|---|
| Registered voters/turnout | 115,769 | 100.00 | |
|---|
| Party or alliance | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|
| Barisan Nasional | | Malaysian Chinese Association | 46,226 | 22.15 | 3 | +2 |
| Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia | 42,792 | 20.51 | 3 | –2 |
| United Malays National Organisation | 28,331 | 13.58 | 3 | +2 |
| Total | 117,349 | 56.24 | 9 | +2 |
| Democratic Action Party | 51,025 | 24.45 | 0 | –1 |
| Malaysian Social Justice Party | 26,640 | 12.77 | 0 | New |
| Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia | 12,409 | 5.95 | 0 | 0 |
| Homeland Consciousness Union | 1,235 | 0.59 | 0 | New |
| Total | 208,658 | 100.00 | 9 | +1 |
|
| Registered voters/turnout | 271,133 | – | |
|---|
After the election, Sarawak National Party (SNAP) became the largest opposition party in the Malaysian parliament and James Wong was appointed the opposition leader. After 2 months, he was detained under Internal Security Act. Datuk Seri Edmund Langgau Anak Saga from the SNAP party later succeeded him. James Wong was detained for almost two years before negotiation led by Datuk Amar Leo Moggie Anak Irok resulting in SNAP joining the Barisan Nasional.
- ^ Candidates were returned unopposed in 47 constituencies, reducing the number of eligible voters to 2,956,395.[1]
