TAIPING, 7 April 2009: A total of 28,418 voters or 58% of the total in the Bukit Gantang parliamentary constituency have cast their ballots in the by-election as at 2.30pm today.
Election Commission (EC) chairperson Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said that at the same time, 17,103 voters or 51% of the total registered voters had cast their ballots in the by-election for the Bukit Selambau state seat.
The turnout for the by-election for the Batang Ai state seat is still the highest as at 2.30pm with 5,070 voters or 64% of the total registered voters casting their ballots.
Abdul Aziz said the initial statistics of 70% voter turnout stated earlier was merely an estimated percentage.
“The EC had projected that 75% of the voters in Batang Ai would cast their ballots in the by-election until 5 pm.
“Everything is progressing well, except for a minor dispute between the canvassers,” he said.
Abdul Aziz said he was not worried about the voting process in Batang Ai but advised the voters in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau to come out early to vote to avoid problems such as heavy rain and traffic congestion at the last minute.
In Bukit Gantang, there were traffic jams along several roads leading to the voting centres especially along Jalan Taiping-Kuala Kangsar, Jalan Kuala Sepetang and Jalan Air Kuning.
Intermittent heavy rains were also reported in Bukit Gantang since 12.30 pm. — Bernama
