BN's Lokman blames low turnout on 'promises not kept'

SG KANDIS POLLS | BN's Sungai Kandis candidate Lokman Noor Adam speculates that the low turnout at the by-election is a result of voter unenthusiasm due to Pakatan Harapan allegedly not keeping its promises.

“It seems the mood of the voters is muted, and this is an early sign voters who were previously gung-ho about coming back to vote have lost their enthusiasm for voting.

“Perhaps this is caused by promises not having been kept,” Lokman said when met at the SRA Sungai Kandis polling centre, though he did not elaborate further.

He was commenting on the 50 percent turnout rate at noon at the state seat by-election today, just months after the May 9 general election.

The Umno candidate arrived early at 9am and spent his time mingling with voters and visiting the polling centres while accompanied by Election Commission officers.

Lokman said he was hoping for a higher turnout, but was pessimistic about the chances of that happening after the morning showing.

“From the looks of it, many have decided not to come out to vote. The chance of hitting a minimum of 80 percent isn't very high,” he said.

A total of 51,217 voters are set to cast their ballots today after the Sungai Kandis seat fell vacant following the death of PKR incumbent Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei on July 2 from lymphoma.

Shuhaimi had won the Malay-majority state seat with a 12,480 majority.

Today's poll sees a three-cornered fight between Lokman, Pakatan Harapan's Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni and independent K Murthy. - Mkini