Sg Bakap polls: Fine morning weather allows voters to go to the polls early

NIBONG TEBAL: This morning's fine weather is allowing voters in the Sungai Bakap state constituency to come out early to cast their votes.

Some started queuing at their polling stations as early as 7am, even though the polling centres opened at 8am.

Nine polling stations with 65 voting streams opened simultaneously at 8 am on Saturday (July 6) for the Sungai Bakap state by-election.

Meanwhile, a Bernama check at the SMK Bandar Tasek Mutiara polling station in Simpang Ampat saw a few policemen on duty at the school entrance to control traffic.

Also seen were Election Commission (EC) workers helping voters check their respective voting channels at a special counter. Wheelchairs were available for elderly voters and those with health problems.

Mohd Faizul Arifin, 47, of Taman Bandar Tasek Mutiara, was the first voter to arrive at the polling centre.

"I came early to avoid the long queue because I plan to return to my village in Selama, Perak, to handle some family matters. If I can vote early, I can leave early,” said the man who was formerly a voter in Seri Delima in the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency before moving to Sungai Bakap 10 years ago.

According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) website, rain is forecast in some areas in the Seberang Perai Selatan district in the morning. However, the weather is expected to be fine in the afternoon and night.

The Sungai Bakap state by-election is a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan candidate Dr Joohari Ariffin and Perikatan Nasional candidate Nibong Tebal PAS vice-chief Abidin Ismail.

It is held following the death of incumbent Nor Zamri Latiff due to stomach inflammation last May 24.

In the Penang State Election last August, Nor Zamri, also Nibong Tebal PAS chief, defeated PH candidate Nurhidayah Che Rose with a majority of 1,563 votes. – Bernama