It's less than 24 hours before voting for the Permatang Pauh by-election commences but voters interviewed today were keeping their cards close to their chests with regards who they would be voting for.

Revealing only a single name, 58-year-old Melody was one such voter who remained undecided.

"I haven't decided on who to vote for. I will only decide when the time comes for me to cast my vote," she told Malaysiakini .

Melody, who has been living in Kubang Semang for the past 40 years, however,  said she will definitely come out to vote.

"If my husband makes it in time to return home tonight after an outstation trip, then we will be voting together. If not, I will go alone," she said.

Asked whether she preferred a particular candidate in the parliamentary by-election, Melody claimed she had no preference as they were "all the same".

She revealed that both she and her husband will not force the other to vote for a particular candidate as they felt both were entitled to their own choices.

Melody also disclosed she did attend any ceramah as she simply did not have the time to do so having to take care of her husband's grocery store as well as her grandchildren.

"People who come by here (the store) don't talk about the by-election anyway," she said.

Anwar not forgotten

She admitted though that the numerous elections the constituency has seen was burdensome as voters here have had to turn out to vote many times. Since 2008, this would be the fourth time voters in Permatang Pauh have had to go to the polls.

For 68-year-old Khor, another grocery store owner, tonight will be spent mulling on whom he should cast his vote for.

Khor, also born and bred in Kubang Semang, said the locals have not forgotten Anwar Ibrahim, who had been the MP for the area since 1982 until his second conviction for sodomy earlier this year.

"How can we forget him?" he said, simply.

When asked whether the multiple by-elections in the past years were a chore, Khor said they weren't and that when asked to come out to vote, he would just that especially since his polling station was near.

"I will come out early in the morning tomorrow to vote," he said.

For pensioner Ismail, the 76-year-old said he had listened to the various ceramah organised thus far.

He, however, declined to reveal whom he would vote for tomorrow.

Restaurant owner Rosli, 52, said it would be a loss not to vote tomorrow.

"But I know who I want to vote for tomorrow," he said, declining to reveal which party had his support.

Strong campaigning

Rosli noted the campaigning done by both sides had been equally strong.

Ultimately, voters will decide whether to vote for a particular candidate based on the various ceramah and posters, he opined.

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is contesting the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat against Umno's Suhaimi Sabudin and two other candidates, PRM's Azman Shah Othman and independent Salleh Isahak.

The PKR president is contesting the seat for the fourth time after her husband PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim failed to obtain a royal pardon for his sodomy conviction.

Related stories

Villagers drive out PAS demonstrators

IGP: Azmin's 'barua' query quite extreme

Pmtg Pauh voters coy on their choice

'Barua' query on IGP only 'rhetorical'

Beware of phantom voters, Rafizi warns

Deputy CM II angry with himself, not Azizah

Apologise for calling IGP 'barua', cops tell Azmin

Anwar files to determine prisoner's right to vote

Cloudy weather predicted for Pmtg Pauh polling day

Kak Wan on right track as BN carrots set to fail

Wan Azizah: I am a grandmother, so what?

On ‘faceless cowards’ and Umno’s ‘barua’