Mahkota heads to polls on Sept 28

The Election Commission (EC) has set Sept 28 as polling day for the Mahkota by-election.

EC chairperson Ramlan Harun announced Sept 14 as the nomination day, while early voting is scheduled for the 24th.

“The budget for the by-election is estimated at RM2.4 million,” he said during a presser at the commission’s headquarters in Putrajaya today.

The Mahkota state seat in Johor fell vacant following the death of its incumbent from Umno, Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, on Aug 2.

During the 2022 Johor state election, Sharifah, who represented BN, secured the seat with a 5,166 majority, defeating her opponents in a four-way tussle.

Previously, Kluang Amanah defended the division’s bid to contest the Mahkota seat, announced several days after Sharifah’s passing.

This is despite state DAP chief Liew Chin Tong saying that the state chapter will adhere to the principle of “incumbency” where the party that won the seat in the previous polls would field a candidate in the by-election as well.

Amanah president Mohamad Sabu yesterday said national party leaders will decide on the candidate to contest the Mahkota seat.

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