BN 1.3k votes up, wins 5 polling centres, Asyraf claims

POLLING DAY | Today is D-Day for the Nenggiri by-election.

Voters will choose their representative, either BN candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani or Perikatan Nasional’s Mohd Rizwadi Ismail.

Malaysiakini reports live from the ground.

Polling closes

6.05pm: Polling for the Nenggiri by-election has closed and vote counting is underway.

Follow the Malaysiakini results blog with live updates from the ground.

Voter turnout breaches 70pct mark

4.58pm: Voter turnout for the Nenggiri polls reached 71.87 percent as of 4pm, the Election Commission (EC) confirms.

Bernama reported the EC as saying that the tally is beyond the 61.09 percent recorded during the state elections in August last year.

So far, six out of the 20 polling centres have been shuttered and the rest will close at 6pm.

Another polling centre win for BN - Asyraf

4.52pm: In an update, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki claims BN also won at the Simpor polling centre, garnering 325 votes compared to PAS’ 18, with a difference of 307 votes. 

This suggests that BN is leading in five polling centres, with 1,554 votes compared to PAS’ 244. 

BN leads by 1k votes, wins 4 of 20 polling stations, Asyraf claims

4.25pm: BN has won four polling centres, claims Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Taking to Facebook, the Umno leader claims BN garnered 1,229 votes in the four polling centres as opposed to PAS’ 226.

Asyraf lists his figures as follows:

Tohoi
BN: 330
PAS: 28
(BN wins with a majority of 302 votes )

Sungai Puian
BN: 305
PAS: 5
(BN wins with a majority of 300 votes)

Sungai Jenera
BN: 440
PAS: 88
(BN wins with a majority of 352 votes)

Kuala Sungai
BN: 154
PAS: 105
(BN wins with a majority of 49 votes)

Cops receive 18 reports

3.50pm: Police received 18 reports and opened six investigation papers related to the Nenggiri by-election since yesterday, says Kelantan police chief Muhamad Zaki Harun.

The six are being investigated under Section 4A of the Election Offences Act 1954, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, with another 12 being isolated cases.

“There was a minor altercation between party supporters at the Sungai Asap polling centre this morning, but police promptly resolved the issue.

“Alhamdulillah, I would describe the Nenggiri by-election today as being well-managed and harmonious,” Bernama reports him as saying.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission says voter turnout reached 68.21 percent as of 3pm.

Turnout nears 64pct

2.20pm: Election Commission reports that as of 2pm, voter turnout at the Nenggiri reached 63.58 percent.

Four of the 20 polling centres - SK Tohoi, Pusat Pendidikan Komuniti Pos Gob, SK Sri Permai and SK Kuala Sungai will close at 2pm, while two others - SK Pulat and Dewan Orang Ramai Pos Simpor - will close at 3pm.

The rest will close at 6pm.

‘I’m 8 months pregnant and still voting’

12pm: Being eight months pregnant has not stopped Che Nurul Amira Che Mat, 35, from fulfilling her duty as a voter in the Nenggiri state constituency.

Amira, who is excited to vote in the by-election, made the effort to go out early in the morning with her husband to cast her ballot.

“I was worried I might not make it to vote because I could suddenly have to give birth, but thank God I was able to fulfil my responsibility this morning.

“I feel excited to vote this time, even though I have voted many times before,” she says at the Tabika Sri Bakawali polling centre in Kampung Bertam Lama, Gua Musang.

‘We’re still friends’

10.15am: PAS candidate Mohd Rizwadi Ismail maintains that he is still friends with his BN counterpart Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, despite both men clashing head-on in today’s Nenggiri by-election.

“Praise be to God, today I met Azmawi. We could not meet during 14 days of campaigning, but we have met today.

“We are friends, our houses are close to each other, and we will remain friends no matter what,” Rizwadi tells the media when met at the Kampung Bertam Lama polling centre in Gua Musang, this morning.

Rizwadi urges voters to come out in droves to cast their ballots.

“If you are angry (with any party), put that aside first, and please vote for the sake of the community.”

‘Old friends’ cum rivals meet at polling centre

9am: BN candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani casts his vote at about 8.20am, accompanied by his wife Nur Khamila Mohd Zain.

When met, Azmawi, fondly known as Awie, says he hopes for the polling process to go on smoothly throughout the day.

“I hope voters will come out to fulfil their duty. Today is the day, after 14 days of campaigning.

“Choose the right candidate to represent the Nenggiri state constituency,” he says.

After completing the voting process, Azmawi runs into his “old friend”-cum-rival, PAS candidate Mohd Rizwadi Ismail, who also comes to vote, with his wife Che Mariam Che Noh.

20k voters to make their pick

7.55am: A total of 20,216 ordinary voters will fulfil their responsibility of electing a new assemblyperson in the Nenggiri by-election today.

Bernama reports that at precisely 8am, 20 polling centres with 46 polling channels will open for voting, with closures scheduled progressively between 2pm and 6pm.

Four of these centres - SK Tohoi, Pusat Pendidikan Komuniti Pos Gob, SK Sri Permai, and SK Kuala Sungai - will close at 2pm, while two others - SK Pulat and Dewan Orang Ramai Pos Simpor - will close at 3pm.

Both candidates - BN’s Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani and Perikatan Nasional’s Mohd Rizwadi Ismail - will vote at the same polling centre - Tabika Sri Bakawali, Bertam Lama.

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