With 5 hours to go, voter turnout tops 53% in Pelangai

 

Voters lining up to cast their ballots at SJK (C) Manchis in Bentong. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The number of people who came out to vote in the Pelangai by-election hit 53% as of 1pm, the Election Commission (EC) said.

It has exceeded the percentage of those who cast their ballots for the whole day in Pulai, one month ago.

Earlier, EC chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh told reporters after a visit to the polling centres the voting trend was “encouraging” and that the commission was expecting a turnout of at least 70%.

The nine polling stations, with a total of 30 channels, opened at 8am and are scheduled to close at 6pm.

The result is expected to be announced by 9pm.

The by-election is being held following the death of Umno assemblyman and Pahang exco member Johari Harun in the plane crash near Bandar Elmina in Shah Alam on Aug 17.

It features a three-cornered fight among Barisan Nasional’s Amizar Abu Adam, Perikatan Nasional’s Kasim Samat and independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli.

Pelangai has some 16,456 eligible voters, including 36 police personnel and three overseas absentee voters. - FMT