The Election Commission (EC) expects 80 percent of the 54,695 registered voters in the Sibu parliamentary constituency to turn up

and cast their votes tomorrow.

abdul aziz yusof spr by election bukit gantang selambau 120209 06 Its chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof ( right ) said the polling for the by-election would begin at 8am and end at 5pm.

"In the 2008 general election, the turnout was 68 percent out of 53,679 registered voters.

"The weatherman has forecast fine weather. But please turn up early to vote in case it rains in the afternoon," he told a media conference at the EC's by-election operations centre at the Civic Centre in Sibu today.

Abdul Aziz said of the 45 polling stations that would be opened to enable the electorate to cast their votes, 10 would close at 1pm, five at 2pm, six at 3pm, two at 4pm and 22 at 5pm.

Results out latest by 9pm 

He said the polling station with the highest number of voters, at 3,484, was at the Rajang Park Kindergerten near here.

"The smallest is at SJK(C) Kai Nang in Seberang Ensurai, Batang Rajang, about an one hour's journey from here with only 42 voters.

"The furthest is at SK Sungai Rassau with over 400 voters. Our workers will leave for the place this afternoon by boat," he said.

He said all 110 ballot boxes would be taken to the tallying centre at the Civic Centre immediately after polling closed.

"We expect to announce the result at the latest by 9pm," he said.

He said those who wanted to check their polling stations can do so at the EC's website or via SMS by texting SPR SEMAK IC NUMBER and sending to 15888.

Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz who just returned from England to monitor the general election there, said unlike in Malaysia, its election workers had to work from 7am to 10pm because some voters decided to turn up at the last minute.

- Bernama