Mahkota polls: Police approve 38 permits for by-election campaigns

KLUANG: Police have approved 38 permits for political parties contesting in the ongoing Mahkota by-election, with the majority being granted to Perikatan Nasional.

Kluang OCPD Asst Comm Bahrin Mohd Noh said these applications were made since nomination day on Saturday (Sept 14) until Thursday (Sept 19).

"Of the total applications, Perikatan applied for 29 permits, while Barisan Nasional made nine applications within the six-day campaign period.

"Police rejected one application from Barisan that sought to show a big screen, as they did not have approval from the Kluang district office," he said on Thursday (Sept 19).

ACP Bahrin stated that police approved 12 permits for Thursday, with seven for Perikatan and five for Barisan, allowing them to hold events such as campaign walkabouts and ceramah.

The Mahkota seat became vacant following the death of its assemblyman, Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, on Aug 2.

The upcoming Mahkota state seat by-election will be a straight contest between Barisan and Perikatan.

Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, who also serves as the Kluang Umno Youth chief, aims to retain the seat for Barisan, while Perikatan is fielding 61-year-old Mohamad Haizan Jaafar.

According to the Election Commission (EC), the electoral roll for the by-election includes 66,318 voters, comprising 61,397 ordinary voters, 401 police personnel, 4,510 military personnel and their spouses, and 10 absentee voters abroad.

Early voting is scheduled for Sept 24, involving three centres with 11 stations. The main polling day on Sept 28 will see 20 centres and 109 voting stations in operation.