BALAKONG POLLS | A total of 28 out of the 31 police officers and personnel in the Balakong state by-election cast their votes at the early polling centre in the Seri Kembangan police quarters about 9.15am today.

The early voters, who started to cast their votes as soon as the polling centre opened at 8am, were part of the 62,219 registered voters eligible to vote in the Balakong by-election.

The EC also announced that the polling centre would close at noon as was fixed previously.

A source said three other early voters did not vote because it was understood that their service was terminated and they had disciplinary problems.

Also present to inspect the early voting process were Kajang district police chief Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof and EC deputy chairperson Othman Mahmood.

Othman said the early voting process in the Balakong by-election today went smoothly because it involved one of the smallest ever numbers of registered voters.

The two candidates, Pakatan candidate Harapan Wong Siew Ki and Tan Chee Teong from MCA were also present at the polling centre.

77pct early voter turnout in Seri Setia

In Seri Setia, meanwhile, the two early polling centres – the Ababil Multipurpose Hall at the Subang Air Force Base and the Police SMS Complex – were closed at 5pm today.

An EC spokesperson said 77 percent of the 2,770 early voters from among the army personnel and their spouses, as well as police personnel, had cast their votes.

The early voting process, which started at 8am, was also witnessed by the agents of the candidates contesting in the by-election, besides election observers comprising representatives of organisations and NGOs appointed by the EC.

The ballot boxes for the early voting are kept at the Kelana Jaya Police Station lock-up and counting will be done on polling day on Saturday.

The Seri Setia by-election is witnessing a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan candidate Halimey Abu Bakar and PAS candidate Dr Halimah Ali.

- Bernama