KUALA KUBU BAHARU – Official results for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election are expected at around 9pm tonight, Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Azmi Sharom said.
They can be earlier than the initial 10pm target as EC has improved its processes.
“Hopefully, (the results will be announced) at about 9pm. We (EC) are quite fast nowadays…hopefully, before 10pm,” he told reporters at SMK Kuala Kubu Baharu today.
Meanwhile, Azmi said voter turnout at 11am was 26%, three hours after polling began at 8am.
Voting at all 18 polling centres in the state seat has been smooth-running and peaceful.
Asked whether the turnout can reach EC’s target of 70%, Azmi said by-elections rarely surpass the turnout of state elections.
“(Voter turnout here) during the (last) state polls was 67%. Usually, a by-election would be lower. But who knows?
“If we reach 70%, then that is already very good, but let’s look at a 60% turnout,” he said.
Asked about several people waving party flags near the voting centre at SMK Kuala Kubu Baharu, Azmi said no action could be taken if they abide by election rules to keep a specified distance away.
“It could be a problem. They have to be 50 to 100m away (from the vicinity to avoid issues). As long as they keep the distance, it is what it is,” he said.
A total of 39,362 voters are expected to cast their ballots today, before all centres close around 6pm except for SJK(C) Bukit Fraser which closes at 2pm as it is catering to only 40 voters.
Over 700 voters – military and police personnel and their spouses, cast their ballots in early voting on Tuesday.
The state seat has 40,226 registered voters who will elect a new representative following the death of the state seat’s incumbent Lee Kee Hiong on March 21.
She 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 Azhari Saut (Perikatan Nasional), Hafizah Zainudin (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) and Nyau Ke Xin (independent). – May 11, 2024