EC: Unfavourable weather responsible for low turnout

JOHOR BY-ELECTIONS | The number of voters who fulfilled their responsibilities in today’s by-elections was relatively low due to unfavourable weather conditions, said Election Commission chairperson Abdul Ghani Salleh.

As of 1pm, only 29 percent of voters have cast their ballot in the Pulai parliamentary seat. In the Simpang Jeram state seat, the figure stood at 39 percent.

However, Ghani told Bernama that the voting process in the two by-elections is going smoothly and under control without any untoward incident.

He hopes the EC’s target of more than 70 percent voter turnout will be achieved.

“So far, we have seen that most of the voters who went out to vote were on channels one, two, and three this morning.

“Maybe, young people took some time by voting in the afternoon," he said.

The Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections are three-cornered fights involving Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional, and independent candidates.

In Pulai, Harapan candidate Suhaizan Kaiat is facing Zulkifli Jaafar of PN and independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi; while in Simpang Jeram, Harapan’s Nazri Abdul Rahman is taking on surgeon Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya of PN and independent candidate S Jeganathan.

The two seats fell vacant following the death of Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub on July 23.

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