Chempaka by-election: 55% voter turnout, says EC

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof (standing, far left) speaking to workers at Sekolah Menengah Pengkalan Chepa 1.

PENGKALAN CHEPA: Voter turnout for the Chempaka state seat by-election is approximately 55%, according to the Election Commission.

The estimation, including early and postal votes, was obtained at 5PM when polling centres closed.

There are 21,890 registered voters in the Chempaka constituency.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said that the turnout was lower than the 70% predicted, but this was not unexpected.

"It is not unusual for voter turnout to be low in places where Barisan Nasional does not contest," he said.

"During the 13th General Election, voter turnout was 85.9%. We will investigate the exact reason for the low turnout," he said.

Abdul Aziz also said that the by-election was one of the most uneventful ones.

"There was no fighting or people obstructing entrances to polling centres," he said.

The Chempaka by-election was held following the death of its assemblyman, PAS spiritual leader Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat on March 12.