KUALA KUBU BAHARU – Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Khairul Azhari Saut has predicted a higher turnout in the by-election here today than in the state election last August.
“We hope for a high turnout. It should be a slight increase compared to the 67% in the Selangor state election last year.
“From what I have seen this morning, it is encouraging. It hasn’t been an hour since the polling station opened but it seems quite crowded. It’s a good sign for the voters here,” he told reporters after visiting the SK Bandar Baru Batang Kali voting centre this morning.
Khairul, who is the Hulu Selangor Bersatu acting division chief, arrived at around 8.30am.
He is not registered to vote in Kuala Kubu Baharu although he is from the Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency.
“I urge all voters to come out early to vote to avoid rain in the afternoon. Come out and fulfil your responsibility to vote.
Voter turnout for the Selangor state seat was 9.7% as of 9am, according to the Election Commission.
Over 700 voters – military and police personnel and their spouses, cast their ballots in early voting on Tuesday.
Today, 39,362 voters have until 6pm to cast their ballots at 18 polling stations, except for those assigned to SJK(C) Bukit Fraser, which has only 40 voters.
In total, the state seat here has 40,226 registered voters eligible to elect a new representative following the death of the state seat’s incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong, on March 21.
She had held the seat for DAP-Pakatan Harapan since 2013, and won again last year for a third time by a 4,119-vote majority, defeating three other candidates from PN, Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) and Muda.
The by-election today is a four-cornered contest involving Pang Sock Tao (Pakatan Harapan), Khairul (PN), Hafizah Zainudin (PRM) and Nyau Ke Xin (independent). – May 11, 2024