Pelangai polls: 53% voter turnout as of 1PM, says EC

PETALING JAYA: The voter turnout for the Pelangai state by-election on Saturday (Oct 7) stands at 53% as of 1pm, says the Election Commission (EC).

A total of nine voting centres, involving 30 channels, will be open until 6pm.

Prior to this, the EC said in a statement that voter turnout was at 32% as of 11am.

ALSO READ: Pelangai polls: Voting going smoothly, 32% turnout as of 11am

Perikatan Nasional candidate Kasim Samat, 62, who was accompanied by his wife Nor Atiqah Abu Bakar, 55, voted at SMK Felda Chemomoi at 8.30 am.

The other two candidates contesting the seat, Datuk Amizar Abu Adam of Barisan Nasional and Independent Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli, are registered electors for Ketari, which with Pelangai is 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.

It is being called for following the death of its incumbent Datuk Seri Johari Harun in a plane crash in Bandar Elmina in Shah Alam, Selangor, on Aug 17.

ALSO READ: Pelangai polls: 10% voter turnout as of 9am, says EC

In the 15th General Election (GE15), Johari from Barisan, won with a majority of 4,048 votes, defeating Kasim, Ahmed Wafiuddin of Pakatan Harapan, and Pejuang candidate Isa Ahmad.

The by-election for the Pelangai state seat is the fourth being held after GE15 on Nov 19 last year.

The first three by-elections were held for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat on Aug 12, and for the Pulai parliamentary seat and Simpang Jeram state seat, which took place simultaneously on Sept 9.