BN candidate makes first public appearance since nomination to vote

KUALA KANGSAR, June 18 — Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary by-election Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid made her first public appearance since her nomination today by casting her vote at SK Raja Perempuan Muzwin in Bukit Kerajaan, Kuala Kangsar.

Mastura, who arrived at 8.30am, was seen chatting amiably with voters at the center while scores of her supporters were heard screaming her name and asking her to pose for photographs.

The widow of incumbent Kuala Kangsar MP, the late Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad was previously confined to her home as she was observing ‘iddah’, or the grace period after the passing of her husband in a helicopter crash last month.

Mastura did not speak to the press during her visit and left at 8.45am.

The voting centre was thronged by hundreds of supporters from the three contesting parties BN, PAS and Amanah. Voters began gathering at the centre as early as 7am.

The school is the voting center for the Bukit Chandan polling district, which has 2,764 registered voters.

Meanwhile, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) candidate Prof Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli arrived at SMK Clifford at 8.40am to show his support for the voters here, and received warm welcome from the voters in return.

Ahmad Termizi also told the media he felt confident that Amanah would stand a good chance in this by-election.

PAS candidate Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad also arrived at SMK Clifford at about 9.20am before for a brief walkabout.

The Kuala Kangsar by-election is a four-cornered fight between Mastura, Dr Najihatussalehah, Ahmad Termizi, and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary.

Of the four candidates, only Mastura is registered as a voter in Kuala Kangsar. Dr Najihatussalehah is a voter in Parit, Perak, Dr Ahmad Termizi is registered in Shah Alam, Selangor, while Izat Bukhary votes in Kelantan.

A total of 23 polling centres, with 69 polling streams, opened at 8am today for Kuala Kangsar parliamentary by-election.

Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hisham Abdullah said a total of 32,632 of the 32,949 voters were eligible to vote today to choose their elected representative.

As at 9am, the percentage turnout votes is at 11 per cent, according to the EC.