Voters in the Sungai Kandis state constituency are advised to plan their time accordingly and go out to cast their ballot early due to the uncertain weather condition anticipated especially in the afternoon.

Election Commission deputy chairperson Othman Mahmood said up to now, the polling process in the state by-election was running smoothly without any untoward incident.

“I see an average of 60 to 70 voters at any one polling channel that I visited and it is expected more voters will come out to cast their vote at noon later,” he told reporters when checking on the polling process at SMA Tinggi Sultan Hisamuddin here today.

The Sungai Kandis state seat has 51,230 registered voters, comprising 51,217 ordinary voters and 13 absentee voters.

Prior to this, the EC has targeted a voter turnout of 80 per cent in the by-election being held following the death of its assemblyman, Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei of PKR of lymphoma on July 2.

It is witnessing a three-cornered fight between PKR candidate Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni, BN candidate Lokman Noor Adam and independent candidate K Murthy.

Meanwhile, when met by reporters after visiting the polling centre at SMK Jalan Kebun in Shah Alam, Othman said 400 new voters in the Sungai Kandis state constituency would vote for the first time in the by-election today.

Hence, he wanted as many voters as possible to exercise their rights as voters given that the polling centres would only close at 5.30 pm.

Shah Alam police chief ACP Baharudin Mat Taib said some 1,200 police officers and personnel were on duty in this by-election.

“We deploy between 25 and 39 officers and personnel at any one polling centre to ensure the polling process runs smooth and is under control," he said when met at the school.

- Bernama