BENTONG – The Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate for the Pelangai by-election has expressed full confidence that he will be able to seize the Pahang assembly seat when polling ends today.
Kasim Samat, who is popularly known as Cikgu Kasim, said this after casting his ballot at the SMK Felda Chemomoi polling centre here at about 8.40am today.
He was dressed in full white Baju Melayu attire, complete with sampin and songkok, while being accompanied by his wife Nor Atiqah Abu Bakar, who also took the opportunity to cast her vote.
Kasim said he expects the voter turnout to be between 65% and 75% at the end of the day..
As at 11am today, the turnout was announced by EC as having reached 32%.
He faces Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk Amizar Abu Adam and independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasni, who is using the car symbol in a three-cornered fight.
Amizar and Haslihelmy are not voting in this by-election as they are both registered voters in the neighbouring Ketari state constituency, which is also within the Bentong parliamentary area.
The by-election has been forced by the tragic death of incumbent Datuk Seri Johari Harun, 53, of BN in a plane crash in Bandar Elmina, Shah Alam, on August 17. Johari was also a Pahang state executive councillor. – October 7, 2023
