Ahmad Maslan calls for higher voter turnout in Sg Bakap

SG BAKAP BY-ELECTION | Umno supreme council member Ahmad Maslan urged more than 38,000 registered voters in the area to use the long weekend holiday to return home and vote come Saturday.

"In the last state election, the voter turnout percentage in the Sungai Bakap state constituency was at 77 percent.

"In KKB (Kuala Kubu Baharu), during the state election, it recorded 68 percent, but during the by-election, it decreased by seven percent when the voter turnout was at 61 percent.

"So, we hope that in Sungai Bakap, especially since the outstation voters are within the Penang area (only), they can come back to vote by taking advantage of the long holiday on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Awal Muharam) to return to their hometown (to vote)," he told reporters during a visit to the media centre at the Rakan Muda Complex, Jawi, today.

The deputy minister said this amid a report quoting PKR sources that Pakatan Harapan could only win this time with a higher voter turnout.

Earlier, Free Malaysia Today reported that Perikatan Nasional was in the lead when it came to wooing youth votes.

As such, Harapan needs those above the age of 30 to come out and vote.

Talking to parents

Echoing Ahmad’s sentiments, Harapan’s candidate Joohari Ariffin also urged voters to turn up to cast their ballots on Saturday.

During his door-to-door campaign session, Joohari said he had urged parents to get their adult children who are living outstation to come back and vote.

"When electing a leader, we need to be serious," he told Malaysiakini.

The Sungai Bakap state seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent, Nor Zamri Latiff, on May 24 due to inflammation in the abdomen.

The by-election is a straight fight between Harapan’s Joohari and PN’s Abidin Ismail.

Polling day is on July 6.

Large farms behind Sg Bakap voters' fly problem, official says

Penang PAS offers 'Kerja' in Sg Bakap

PAS: We made right choice in picking Abidin for Sg Bakap

Sg Bakap polls: 'Cops deployed for security, not spy on predictable PN'