PERMATANG PAUH, April 25 — The Election Commission (EC) expects 80 per cent of voters in Permatang Pauh to turn out on May 7 to cast their vote in the by-election.
EC deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah compared the figure to the voter turnout during the 13th General Election (GE 13) in 2013 that saw 88 percent of voters turn up at the polls, a little more than is expected in the upcoming elections.
“SPR estimates the voter turn out to be 80 per cent. In GE 13, in Permatang Pauh was 88.5 per cent,” he said, referring to the EC’s Malay acronym.
Hashim also urged the candidates to follow the rules during the two week campaign period by ensuring only posters of the candidates are posted in the constituency, adding that posters displaying the logo of other parties could result in a RM3,000 fine.
“The rules we allow is, the party contesting to put up banners around the election area but other parties that are unrelated cannot,” he said.
Returning officer Husni Ismail announced at the end of the nomination process at 10.30am today that voters will have the choice of Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail of PKR, Suhaimi Sabudin for BN, PRM’s Azman Shah Othman or independent Salleh Isahak come polling day on May 7.
Permatang Pauh has been a PKR stronghold since Wan Azizah led the party to take the seat back in the 1999 general election.
A total of 71,890 registered voters in Permatang Pauh will cast their vote for their new MP on May 7, while early polls is on May 3.
