NIBONG TEBAL: The voting process of the Sungai Bakap by-election is proceeding smoothly and harmoniously, says Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun.
Ramlan said that, as of 11am, voters' turnout was 24%.
"Throughout my visit, this is the third school this morning, and the situation is calm during the voting process," he said during a press conference at SK Sungai Duri on Saturday (July 6)
He also calls for all registered voters in Sungai Bakap to come out to vote and fulfil their responsibility as soon as possible.
Ramlan said voters should come early as it is hard to predict the weather in the afternoon.
He said the weather might turn bad, or other unforeseen circumstances might occur.
He said the EC has not received any reports of serious violations during the voting process.
"There have only been a few minor offences, which the relevant authorities have addressed," he said.
Ramlan also said the percentage of voter turnout among young people in the by-election this morning is encouraging.
Based on observation of the voting process at three polling centres, he said the voting pattern saw the youth streams being filled the most.
"This is the third school and I find the situation is calm and the voting process going smoothly and harmoniously...there are some channels where we see more young people than the elderly. Many young people came out early this time," he told a press conference after observing the voting process at the polling centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Duri here.
He said as of 11am on Saturday, the voter turnout was 24% of the 39,151 ordinary voters in the constituency.
Nine polling stations with 65 voting streams were opened simultaneously at 8am on Saturday.
Before visiting SK Sungai Duri, Ramlan visited the SMK Bandar Tasek Mutiara polling centres and SJKC Boon Beng.
The by-election is a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan Dr Joohari Ariffin and Perikatan Nasional Abidin Ismail.
It is being held following the death of incumbent Nor Zamri Latiff on May 24 due to stomach inflammation.
The Sungai Bakap state poll is the eighth by-election since GE15. Previous by-elections were for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat in Terengganu, the Simpang Jeram state seat and the Pulai parliamentary seat in Johor, the Pelangai state seat in Pahang, the Jepak state seat in Sarawak, the Kemaman parliamentary seat in Terengganu and the Kuala Kubu Baharu state seat in Selangor.
