MORE than half of the registered voters in the Ayer Kuning state by-election had cast their ballots as of 3pm, with the Election Commission (EC) reporting a turnout rate of 50.18 per cent.
Polling opened at 8am across 19 centres comprising 63 channels to accommodate the 31,281 eligible voters. One polling centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Toh Tandewa Sakti is scheduled to close early at 4pm, while the remaining centres will operate until 6pm.
EC Chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun visited Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bidor to observe the polling process at around 10.30am. Later in the afternoon, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain and Perak Police Chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin also conducted checks at SMK Bidor and Sekolah Menengah Agama Daerah Batang Padang.
“We are still hopeful that the voting percentage for the Ayer Kuning by-election will reach the 70 per cent target,” the EC chairman said, urging voters to come out early due to the unpredictable weather.
Observations at various centres indicated a smooth voting process under initially overcast skies, which cleared up by midday.
On Tuesday, 93.4 per cent of the 500 police personnel and their spouses had already cast their votes during early voting.
The Ayer Kuning by-election was triggered by the death of its incumbent assemblyman, Ishsam Shahruddin, on February 22 following a heart attack.
The contest is a three-way race between Barisan Nasional’s Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir, Perikatan Nasional’s Abd Muhaimin Malek, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s Bawani KS. - April 26, 2025
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