VOTERS have begun arriving at the polling centres in Simpang Jeram and Pulai ahead of the by-election today.
The Election Commission (EC) is expecting a voter turnout of more than 70% with its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh, saying if this target was achieved, it would surpass the voter turnout recorded in the six state elections on Aug 12.
A total of 61 polling centres with 362 streams opened simultaneously at 8am for the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections.
They comprised 47 polling centres in the Pulai constituency and 14 in the Simpang Jeram constituency. The polling stations are scheduled to close by 6pm.
EC said yesterday (Sept 8) that 205,810 registered voters will be casting their ballots, with 165,509 voters in Pulai and 40,301 in Simpang Jeram.
In Simpang Jeram, there is a three-cornered fight between Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Nazri Abdul Rahman, Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya and independent candidate S Jeganathan.
The by-elections in the state assembly seat and the parliamentary seat of Pulai were triggered following the death of Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub on July 23.
Salahuddin, the former Amanah leader, was also the domestic trade and cost of living minister.
There is also a three-cornered fight in Pulai. PH candidate Suhaizan Kaiat is facing Zulkifli Jaafar of pn and independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi. – Sept 9, 2023
Main photo credit: Malay Mail
