KUALA LUMPUR – More than 160,000 registered electors will go to the polls today to elect the new representatives for the Padang Serai parliamentary constituency in Kedah and the Tioman state constituency in Pahang today.
According to the Election Commission (EC), they comprise 132,955 voters in Padang Serai, and 28,108 others in Tioman.
A total of 46 polling centres with 230 voting streams in Padang Serai, and 17 polling centres with 52 voting streams in Tioman will open from 8am to 6pm.
The EC encouraged voters to wear face masks, use hand sanitiser, and practise physical distancing at the polling centres, while those confirmed Covid-19 positive should liaise with district health officers at the centres for further instructions.
Voters are also advised to come during the gazetted times, or the times proposed by the EC as stated in their voter’s information slips, and not to do so at the last minute.
Polling for the two seats could not be held during the 15th general election (GE15) following the death of two candidates, namely M. Karupaiya of Pakatan Harapan (PH) for Padang Serai and Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Md Yunus Ramli for Tioman.
Karupaiya, 69, died on November 16, believed to be due to a heart attack and health complications, while Md Yunus, 61, died on polling day for GE15 on November 19.
The contest for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat will see a six-cornered fight between PH candidate Mohamad Sofee Razak, Datuk C. Sivaraajh (Barisan Nasional), Datuk Azman Nasrudin (PN), and Hamzah Abd Rahman (Pejuang).
The other two contenders are Mohd Bakhri Hashim of Warisan and independent candidate Sreanandha Rao. However, on December 2, BN agreed to give way to PH for the parliamentary seat.
Meanwhile, the Tioman seat will witness a five-cornered fight between PN candidate Nor Idayu Hashim, Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Hussain (BN), Osman A. Bakar (Pejuang), and Sulaiman Bakar (independent).
The other candidate, Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly of PH, is making way for the BN candidate to increase the latter’s chances of winning, but his name will still be on the ballot papers.
According to the EC, the status of the candidates could not be changed after their nominations were accepted. – Bernama, December 7, 2022
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