Semenyih goes to the polls

LIVE REPORT |

 This will be the first time Bersatu - the party led by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad - is tested in a by-election.

Meanwhile, BN is hoping chalk up another victory after a successful outing in Cameron Highlands in January, following four straight wins by Pakatan Harapan last year.

It has been a bruising campaign for Harapan in this Malay-majority state seat, which has been constantly on the defensive over its difficulties in fulfilling election promises.

They are also facing an onslaught of racial and religious rhetoric from Umno and PAS, whose relationship is becoming increasingly rosy.

There are 54,503 eligible voters in Semenyih, which mostly consists of suburbs and some rural areas to the south of Selangor bordering Negeri Sembilan.

Approximately 68 percent of the electorate are Malay, followed by the Chinese (16.7 percent) and Indians (13.8 percent).

LIVE REPORTS

8.35am: Beranang – BN candidate Zakaria Hanafi, who is accompanied by his wife, Katijah Beebi Bayi Khan, leave the polling station at the Kampung Sesapan Kelubi community hall after having cast his ballot at around 8.10am. 

8.15am: Dewan Orang Ramai Semenyih - PSM candidate Nik Aziz Afiq arrives at the polling centre to cast his vote.

Accompanied by his father, Abdul Abdul Karim, and PSM campaign manager S Arutchelvan, he is hopeful of a good outing.

"Since the election sentiment is a bit different in this by-election, I think we may have a better chance this time. We will let the people make their decision," says Nik Aziz.

"I think we have tried our best over the past two weeks of campaigning, so I will let Allah decide and whatever the result, I will accept it with an open heart."

Meanwhile, Arul says PSM has had a good campaign in this by-election as various local issues were highlighted.

7.55am: SMK Engku Hussain – Pakatan Harapan candidate Muhammad Aiman Zainali is at the Engku Hussain secondary school in Kampung Baru Semenyih, which serves as a polling station, to cast his ballot.

He is with his wife, Nurul Filzah Bakhtiar, and they both join the queue with 15 other voters.

The SMK Engku Hussain polling station has 2,326 registered voters. - Mkini