BENTONG – Polling for the Pelangai state by-election which began at 8am today is going smoothly with electors seen taking advantage of the fine morning weather to go out early to fulfill their responsibilities.
A total of nine voting centres, involving 30 channels, will open until 6pm today for the purpose.
According to the Election Commission (EC), in a statement, the voter turnout as of noon was 44%.
Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Kasim Samat, 62, who was accompanied by his wife Nor Atiqah Abu Bakar, 55, voted at SMK Felda Chemomoi, with the couple fulfilling their responsibility by 8.30 am.
The other two candidates contesting for the Pelangai seat, Datuk Amizar Abu Adam of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli, who is using the car symbol, are registered electors for Ketari, also in the Bentong parliamentary constituency.
Meanwhile, EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh was on the ground to observe the polling process for the by-election.
He said there has been a steady turnout of young voters which is a good development compared to several previous by-elections.
"We can see that voters are coming early and waiting in long queues. In the past, young voters often came a little later. This shows that the enthusiasm of young people has changed," he told reporters after visiting the polling station in SMK Felda Chemomoi.
The EC has appointed 312 officers to be on duty for the voting process.
A Bernama survey at the polling centre at SK Felda Kemasul found electors have not stopped queuing at the gate since it was opened at 8am.
At the SMK Felda Chemomoi voting centre, Rokiah Said, 80, who is in a wheelchair and accompanied by his son, went to exercise her right with the help of an EC worker.
She was the first voter to arrive at the centre.
Also exercising her right at the centre was Farini Ellisa Najwa Abd Manap, 20, who travelled almost 200 kilometres from her workplace in Kuantan to return home to vote today. – Bernama, October 7, 2023
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