LIVE BLOG PMTG PAUH Malaysiakini brings the latest updates on the by-election.
[PHOTO GALLERY]
Four candidates - PKR's Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Umno's Suhaimi Sabudin, PRM's Azman Shah Othman and Independent Salleh Isahak are vying for the parliamentary seat.
The seat was left vacant when its former MP and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim failed to obtain a royal pardon.
He is serving a five-year jail term for sodomy conviction since Feb 10.
BN has described itself as the 'underdog' in this by-election but has put up a tough challenge to Wan Azizah, who is contesting the seat for the fourth time.
She also contested in 1999, 2004 and 2008. She vacated the seat to allow Anwar to return to active politics after serving a six year jail term for a sodomy related charge.
PKR is fighting tooth and nail to defend the seat held by Anwar since 1982.
With about 6,000 outstation voters who are expected not to return to vote as today is a working day elsewhere in the country, PKR is set to retain the seat with a lower majority.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
5.45pm: EC source estimates the turnout at 73 percent or some 52,340 voters have cast their ballots. An official announcement will be made later.
5pm: Polling has come to a close and voter turnout as of 4pm is 69 percent. In the 2013 general election, the turnout rate was 88.3 percent.
There are complaints of traffic jams all over the constituency, partly due to a influx of party activists indulging in last minute campaigning.
Counting will now begin and the results should be announced by 10pm tonight.
4.45pm: A military intelligence personnel (photo, in black), known only as Sargeant Wong, has been apprehended by PKR officials at their booth outside SJK (C) Jit Sin A and B.
"We checked his smartphone and found that there is a WhatsApp group named 'BN Team'," said D Suhana, a PKR activist.
PKR personnel said the military personnel was acting suspiciously as he was seen copying data from the booth and transmitting it through his phone.
PKR vice-president Tian Chua said the military should be gathering information about the Islamic State and potential terrorist threats, not opposition parties.
3.20pm: As of 3pm, EC says 45,333 voters or 63.06 percent have cast their ballots.
1.15pm: Election Commission chief tells reporters that the turnout thus far is low compared to the Rompin by-election.
But if the rate of people showing up at the polls doesn't drop, then the turnout rate will be acceptable.
"My worry is after 12pm, the percentage will drop".
Abdul Aziz said the EC representatives were supposed to visit several schools, but were advised against it by the police.
"There seem to be many undesirable incidents, like stones and chairs being thrown, insults and threats being hurled.
"It looks like supporters in Permatang Pauh are very aggressive, unlike in Rompin."
On PKR's allegations of phantom voters, Abdul Aziz says voters with the correct details are not phantom voters.
"Phantom voters are not people who are supposed to vote in the constituency, or if they have obtained someone else's identity cards and attempts to vote."
Aziz says in the Teluk by-election last year, the contesting parties provided bus service for out-of-town voters, including those from Singapore.
"It means, these voters live elsewhere but are voters in the constituency".
Earlier today, DAP elections director and Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim claims that a senior citizen - Tan Soo Eng, 70, - became a victim of phantom voters this morning.
Tan discovered that her vote was cast by someone else at the SRJKC Jit sin A & B polling centre.
"She went to the centre at about 11am this morning and found that someone else has voted under her name and NRIC number.
"The EC official on duty also wanted to mark her finger with indelible ink but was stopped by our polling agent because Tan has not cast her vote but it was cast by someone else."
1.10pm: As of 1pm, the turnout rate is 49.73 percent, according to the EC.
1pm: Eight police trucks arrive at SK Tanah Liat to quell rowdy BN and PKR supporters.
Dozens of police personnel in riot gear are cordoning the school and keeping about 200 rival party members apart.
Among those on BN's side are Umno Youth exco members Armand Azha Abu Hanifah and Ibdillah Ishak.
A few injured party activists have been sent to the hospital. A journalist was also hurt. He suffered a gash on his head.
12.50PM: The Federal Reserve Unit at SMK Gua Perahu which were earlier assisting in separating the supporters now has to intervene when supporters started to throw water bottles at each other.
"Why must they throw water bottles? People are doing business here and there are children," says a disgruntled patron at the stall.
12.40PM: Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi accused PKR supporters of disturbing police personnel on duty at polling stations last night.
Abdul Rahim said those involved in such provocation acts would be probed for attempting to obstruct a civil servant from carrying out his or her duties.
He said the "most tense" area was SK Indera Muda where three police cars were damaged but there were no casualties or arrest.
He added that 112 police reports were lodged but only 12 were probed.
12.15pm: Violence also erupted at polling station in Tanah Liat where PKR and BN supporters pelted each other with stones.
Punches were also thrown, leading to several getting hurt. Both sides accused each other of provocation.
Some blamed EC for not separating the supporters according to the 50m regulation.
11.50am: The altercation earlier near SMK Guar Perahu becomes heated after a PKR supporter threw the first punch at an Umno supporter.
The police however broke up the fight.
EC officials are later heard telling Umno followers to abide by the election laws.The Umno supporters are then heard saying they do not want to move out from the area.
After further discussions with the EC, Deputy Health Minister Hilmi Yahaya, who led the negotiations, is heard saying they will move to another area.
Speaking to reporters later, Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh confirms that the Umno supporters will move to another area.
"But Hilmi said he has a difficulty convincing them to move," she says.
Fuziah also expresses disappointment that the altercation became physical.
"We could have negotiated this issue better. There is no point getting heated up.
"I'm glad that we could negotiate it," she says.
On Hilmi, who says he needs an hour for all the Umno followers to move, Fuziah says she will have no control over it if PKR supporters become agitated again.
11.30am: Umno Youth claims there was an arson attempt against two of the party's vehicles in Kampung Kepala Bukit, Permatang Pauh.
"Arson attempt on two federal territories 'Skuad Sayang' (Love Squad) vans at 4.30am," it said in a Twitter posting.
It also uploaded photographs of the van with burnt marks near two of its tyres.
Meanwhile, Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyati also complained that one of her campaign vehicles had its windows smashed.
"Pakatan supporters are getting violent. This morning the Puteri's campaign vehicle was smashed," she said in a separate Twitter posting.
According to photographs uploaded on Twitter, the vehicle's rear window and one side window appeared to have been shattered.
10.45am: As of 10am, the turnout rate is 22.91 percent, according to the Election Commission.
10.35am: PKR's Teruntum assemblyperson Sim Chon Siang expresses his dissatisfaction with the EC for not taking action against BN supporters gathering near SMK Guar Perahu.
A shouting match ensues between PKR and Umno supporters when Sim went to make his complaint to the EC officials stationed outside the school. The altercation was later broken up by the police.
Sim later tells reporters that supporters wearing party logos are not allowed within 50 metres from the polling centres, in accordance to election law.
"When I complained to the EC officials, they said they have to wait for the EC patrol unit to come. How can they say that? They must take action now," he says.
Sim adds he was sure that BN supporters were there to fish for votes.
"If not, why are they standing there wearing BN shirts?
"EC chairperson (Aziz Yusof Mohd Yusof) said we cannot fish for votes today and we respect that," he asserts.
Asked whether he will lodge a police report over the matter, Sim says he will give the EC some time first to do the necessary.
10.20am: BN supporters outside Permatang Rawa polling station hold placards with the words "Recycled candidate", "People’s representative, not husband's proxy" and "Enough, it is our turn".
Besides canvassing for votes, they also cheer and wave BN flags along the roadside. A white flag with the words "They reject hudud, we vote for BN" is also spotted.
10.00am: The situation at Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Penanti, Kubang Semang is getting tense as more PKR and BN supporters pour in.
There are about 300 PKR supporters and 100 BN supporters who are jeering each other.
Some PKR supporters have strung up packets of instant noodles and money on a pole to mock their rivals on the fact that instant noodles, a popular Malaysian snack, are subject to GST.
BN supporters respond by blowing their vuvuzelas with accompanying chants of "transformasi".
9.49am: Since PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli has warned that phantom voters may make their appearance today at the Permatang Rawa polling station, PKR polling agents have instructions to pay extra attention on certain suspicious names.
According to Penang DCM1 Abdul Rashid Hasnon, who is in charge of the polling stations, two names have been identified by the party.
"Based on our information, they are registered as voters in Stream 4 and 5, so our polling agents on duty there will watch out for them.
"Once they appear, we will immediately report and take them to the relevant authority, " he told reporters outside SMK Permatang Rawa.
8.30am: PKR candidate Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (photo) arrives at the polling centre in SK Seri Penanti.
Wearing a light blue baju kebarung, she shows her identity card to reporters.
Her daughter, MP for Lembah Pantai Nurul Izzah Anwar, is accompanying her.
Meanwhile, in front of SK Seri Penanti, there are about 30 PKR supporters and 15 BN supporters sitting next to each other.
While they have exchanged heated words, things remain calm between the supporters.
The PKR supporters tell the BN supporters not to back the ruling party any longer.
“No need to be with BN any more.”
However, the BN supporters ignore the PKR supporters and continued chanting “Long live BN” and reciting prayers.
After about 15 minutes, police ask the BN supporters to move across the street.
All of the BN supporters and PKR supporters are now on opposite sides of the road near SK Seri Penanti.
Both parties are calling out things like "Reformasi", "End GST" and
"Long live BN".
8.30am: PKR's candidate Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail arrives at the voting centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Penanti.
Clad in a light blue traditional Malay attire, she is accompanied by her daughter and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.
Meanwhile, opposite the school, PKR supporters and BN supporters sit facing each other.
A war of words ensues but the situation is under control.
After 15 minutes, police ask the BN supporters to move to a location across the street, farther away from the PKR supporters.
PKR supporters chant "Reformasi" and "Down with GST" while BN supporters shout "Long live BN".
8.15am: Umno's Suhaimi Sabudin arrives at SMK Guar Perahu to cast his vote.
Asked how it felt this around as he was voting for himself, Suhaimi admitted that it felt different.
[PHOTO GALLERY]
Four candidates - PKR's Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Umno's Suhaimi Sabudin, PRM's Azman Shah Othman and Independent Salleh Isahak are vying for the parliamentary seat.
The seat was left vacant when its former MP and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim failed to obtain a royal pardon.He is serving a five-year jail term for sodomy conviction since Feb 10.
BN has described itself as the 'underdog' in this by-election but has put up a tough challenge to Wan Azizah, who is contesting the seat for the fourth time.
She also contested in 1999, 2004 and 2008. She vacated the seat to allow Anwar to return to active politics after serving a six year jail term for a sodomy related charge.
PKR is fighting tooth and nail to defend the seat held by Anwar since 1982.
With about 6,000 outstation voters who are expected not to return to vote as today is a working day elsewhere in the country, PKR is set to retain the seat with a lower majority.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Violence in some polling centres as BN and Pakatan supporters clash
- One reporter injured by projectile
- One woman claims someone has voted on her behalf
- PKR nabs a military intelligence officer for 'spying'
- Low turnout
5.45pm: EC source estimates the turnout at 73 percent or some 52,340 voters have cast their ballots. An official announcement will be made later.
5pm: Polling has come to a close and voter turnout as of 4pm is 69 percent. In the 2013 general election, the turnout rate was 88.3 percent.
There are complaints of traffic jams all over the constituency, partly due to a influx of party activists indulging in last minute campaigning.
Counting will now begin and the results should be announced by 10pm tonight.
4.45pm: A military intelligence personnel (photo, in black), known only as Sargeant Wong, has been apprehended by PKR officials at their booth outside SJK (C) Jit Sin A and B."We checked his smartphone and found that there is a WhatsApp group named 'BN Team'," said D Suhana, a PKR activist.
PKR personnel said the military personnel was acting suspiciously as he was seen copying data from the booth and transmitting it through his phone.
PKR vice-president Tian Chua said the military should be gathering information about the Islamic State and potential terrorist threats, not opposition parties.
3.20pm: As of 3pm, EC says 45,333 voters or 63.06 percent have cast their ballots.
1.15pm: Election Commission chief tells reporters that the turnout thus far is low compared to the Rompin by-election.
But if the rate of people showing up at the polls doesn't drop, then the turnout rate will be acceptable.
"My worry is after 12pm, the percentage will drop".
Abdul Aziz said the EC representatives were supposed to visit several schools, but were advised against it by the police."There seem to be many undesirable incidents, like stones and chairs being thrown, insults and threats being hurled.
"It looks like supporters in Permatang Pauh are very aggressive, unlike in Rompin."
On PKR's allegations of phantom voters, Abdul Aziz says voters with the correct details are not phantom voters.
"Phantom voters are not people who are supposed to vote in the constituency, or if they have obtained someone else's identity cards and attempts to vote."
Aziz says in the Teluk by-election last year, the contesting parties provided bus service for out-of-town voters, including those from Singapore.
"It means, these voters live elsewhere but are voters in the constituency".
Earlier today, DAP elections director and Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim claims that a senior citizen - Tan Soo Eng, 70, - became a victim of phantom voters this morning.Tan discovered that her vote was cast by someone else at the SRJKC Jit sin A & B polling centre.
"She went to the centre at about 11am this morning and found that someone else has voted under her name and NRIC number.
"The EC official on duty also wanted to mark her finger with indelible ink but was stopped by our polling agent because Tan has not cast her vote but it was cast by someone else."
1.10pm: As of 1pm, the turnout rate is 49.73 percent, according to the EC.
1pm: Eight police trucks arrive at SK Tanah Liat to quell rowdy BN and PKR supporters.Dozens of police personnel in riot gear are cordoning the school and keeping about 200 rival party members apart.
Among those on BN's side are Umno Youth exco members Armand Azha Abu Hanifah and Ibdillah Ishak.
A few injured party activists have been sent to the hospital. A journalist was also hurt. He suffered a gash on his head.
12.50PM: The Federal Reserve Unit at SMK Gua Perahu which were earlier assisting in separating the supporters now has to intervene when supporters started to throw water bottles at each other.
"Why must they throw water bottles? People are doing business here and there are children," says a disgruntled patron at the stall.12.40PM: Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi accused PKR supporters of disturbing police personnel on duty at polling stations last night.
Abdul Rahim said those involved in such provocation acts would be probed for attempting to obstruct a civil servant from carrying out his or her duties.
He said the "most tense" area was SK Indera Muda where three police cars were damaged but there were no casualties or arrest.
He added that 112 police reports were lodged but only 12 were probed.
12.15pm: Violence also erupted at polling station in Tanah Liat where PKR and BN supporters pelted each other with stones.Punches were also thrown, leading to several getting hurt. Both sides accused each other of provocation.
Some blamed EC for not separating the supporters according to the 50m regulation.
11.50am: The altercation earlier near SMK Guar Perahu becomes heated after a PKR supporter threw the first punch at an Umno supporter.
The police however broke up the fight.
EC officials are later heard telling Umno followers to abide by the election laws.The Umno supporters are then heard saying they do not want to move out from the area.
After further discussions with the EC, Deputy Health Minister Hilmi Yahaya, who led the negotiations, is heard saying they will move to another area.Speaking to reporters later, Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh confirms that the Umno supporters will move to another area.
"But Hilmi said he has a difficulty convincing them to move," she says.
Fuziah also expresses disappointment that the altercation became physical."We could have negotiated this issue better. There is no point getting heated up.
"I'm glad that we could negotiate it," she says.
On Hilmi, who says he needs an hour for all the Umno followers to move, Fuziah says she will have no control over it if PKR supporters become agitated again.
11.30am: Umno Youth claims there was an arson attempt against two of the party's vehicles in Kampung Kepala Bukit, Permatang Pauh.
"Arson attempt on two federal territories 'Skuad Sayang' (Love Squad) vans at 4.30am," it said in a Twitter posting.
It also uploaded photographs of the van with burnt marks near two of its tyres.
Meanwhile, Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyati also complained that one of her campaign vehicles had its windows smashed.
"Pakatan supporters are getting violent. This morning the Puteri's campaign vehicle was smashed," she said in a separate Twitter posting.
According to photographs uploaded on Twitter, the vehicle's rear window and one side window appeared to have been shattered.
10.45am: As of 10am, the turnout rate is 22.91 percent, according to the Election Commission.
10.35am: PKR's Teruntum assemblyperson Sim Chon Siang expresses his dissatisfaction with the EC for not taking action against BN supporters gathering near SMK Guar Perahu.
A shouting match ensues between PKR and Umno supporters when Sim went to make his complaint to the EC officials stationed outside the school. The altercation was later broken up by the police.Sim later tells reporters that supporters wearing party logos are not allowed within 50 metres from the polling centres, in accordance to election law.
"When I complained to the EC officials, they said they have to wait for the EC patrol unit to come. How can they say that? They must take action now," he says.
Sim adds he was sure that BN supporters were there to fish for votes.
"If not, why are they standing there wearing BN shirts?
"EC chairperson (Aziz Yusof Mohd Yusof) said we cannot fish for votes today and we respect that," he asserts.
Asked whether he will lodge a police report over the matter, Sim says he will give the EC some time first to do the necessary.
10.20am: BN supporters outside Permatang Rawa polling station hold placards with the words "Recycled candidate", "People’s representative, not husband's proxy" and "Enough, it is our turn".Besides canvassing for votes, they also cheer and wave BN flags along the roadside. A white flag with the words "They reject hudud, we vote for BN" is also spotted.
10.00am: The situation at Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Penanti, Kubang Semang is getting tense as more PKR and BN supporters pour in.
There are about 300 PKR supporters and 100 BN supporters who are jeering each other.
Some PKR supporters have strung up packets of instant noodles and money on a pole to mock their rivals on the fact that instant noodles, a popular Malaysian snack, are subject to GST.BN supporters respond by blowing their vuvuzelas with accompanying chants of "transformasi".
9.49am: Since PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli has warned that phantom voters may make their appearance today at the Permatang Rawa polling station, PKR polling agents have instructions to pay extra attention on certain suspicious names.
According to Penang DCM1 Abdul Rashid Hasnon, who is in charge of the polling stations, two names have been identified by the party.
"Based on our information, they are registered as voters in Stream 4 and 5, so our polling agents on duty there will watch out for them.
"Once they appear, we will immediately report and take them to the relevant authority, " he told reporters outside SMK Permatang Rawa.
8.30am: PKR candidate Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (photo) arrives at the polling centre in SK Seri Penanti.Wearing a light blue baju kebarung, she shows her identity card to reporters.
Her daughter, MP for Lembah Pantai Nurul Izzah Anwar, is accompanying her.
Meanwhile, in front of SK Seri Penanti, there are about 30 PKR supporters and 15 BN supporters sitting next to each other.
While they have exchanged heated words, things remain calm between the supporters.
The PKR supporters tell the BN supporters not to back the ruling party any longer.
“No need to be with BN any more.”
However, the BN supporters ignore the PKR supporters and continued chanting “Long live BN” and reciting prayers.
After about 15 minutes, police ask the BN supporters to move across the street.All of the BN supporters and PKR supporters are now on opposite sides of the road near SK Seri Penanti.
Both parties are calling out things like "Reformasi", "End GST" and
"Long live BN".
8.30am: PKR's candidate Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail arrives at the voting centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Penanti.
Clad in a light blue traditional Malay attire, she is accompanied by her daughter and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.
Meanwhile, opposite the school, PKR supporters and BN supporters sit facing each other.
A war of words ensues but the situation is under control.
After 15 minutes, police ask the BN supporters to move to a location across the street, farther away from the PKR supporters.
PKR supporters chant "Reformasi" and "Down with GST" while BN supporters shout "Long live BN".
8.15am: Umno's Suhaimi Sabudin arrives at SMK Guar Perahu to cast his vote.
When met by reporters, he expresses hope that all BN supporters will come out in full force to cast their votes, even if they are unwell.
"I hope that our machinery will persuade all our voters to go to the voting centres at the required time.
"I ask for all to pray for BN's victory this time around. We will create history in Permatang Pauh," he says.
Asked how it felt this around as he was voting for himself, Suhaimi admitted that it felt different.
"It feels different as I am voting for my own self. But I feel spirited as many supporters have shown their support today," he says, adding that his siblings as well as kampung folk, have promised to vote early in the morning.
When asked whether he could now rest after 12 days of campaigning, Suhaimi says he will not rest until the results are announced tonight. -Mkini
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