The Election Commission is expecting at least a 70 percent voters turnout in the Balakong and Seri Setia state by-elections on Saturday.

Its deputy chairman Othman Mahmood also hoped that both by-elections would record a higher percentage of voters turnout compared to during the Sungai Kandis by-election which was held on Aug 4.

The Sungai Kandis by-election recorded a relatively low percentage of voters turnout of 49.4 percent compared to the initial 80 percent target set by the EC.

"Various programmes and promotions are implemented so that they (voters) don’t forget to come out and vote this Saturday. We also call on the candidates to inform the voters in their respective constituencies.

"If possible, we want to avoid a low percentage turnout as happened in the Sungai Kandis by-election," he told reporters after monitoring the early voting process at the Ababil Multipurpose Hall, Subang Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Shah Alam today.

Meanwhile, Othman said so far the EC did not officially receive any report of misconduct throughout the campaigning period in the two state constituencies.

However, he said there were several complaints on the social media, which were monitored by EC.

In the Balakong by-election, Pakatan Harapan candidate Wong Siew Ki is facing MCA’s Tan Chee Teong in a straight fight while the Seri Setia by-election will see Harapan candidate Halimey Abu Bakar going head to head with PAS candidate Dr Halimah Ali.

The Balakong by-election was called following the death of its incumbent Eddie Ng Tien Chee in a road accident on July 20 while the Seri Setia by-election follows the death of its incumbent Shaharuddin Badaruddin on Aug 2 due to colon cancer.

Some 62,160 ordinary voters in the Balakong constituency and 50,692 ordinary voters in the Seri Setia seat are eligible to vote on Saturday.

- Bernama