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

Rokiah Said (in wheelchair), the first to arrive at her voting centre on Oct 7, casting her vote with the help of daughter Melati Nisa. – BERNAMApic

BENTONG: Polling for the Pelangai state by-election in Pahang which began at 8am Saturday (Oct 7) is going smoothly, with electors taking advantage of the fine morning weather to go out early to fulfil their responsibilities.

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

The Election Commission (EC) said in a statement that voter turnout was 32% as at 11am.

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

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.

The EC has appointed 312 officers to be on duty for the voting process.

ALSO READ: Pelangai polls: Over 16,000 voters to elect new assemblyman

A Bernama survey at the polling centre at SK Felda Kemasul found electors have not stopped coming through the gate since it opened at 8am.

At the SMK Felda Chemomoi centre, Rokiah Said, 80, who is in a wheelchair and accompanied by her daughter, came to exercise her right with the help of an EC worker. She was the first voter to arrive at the centre.

Also at the centre was Farini Ellisa Najwa Abd Manap, 20, who travelled almost 200km from her workplace in Kuantan to return home to vote. – Bernama