JOHOR BAHRU: Polling centres for the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections closed at 6pm today, with counting of votes to begin shortly when all ballot boxes are taken to the vote-tallying centres.
Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh said yesterday that the process was expected to be completed by as early as 8.30pm, Bernama reported.
A low turnout of 42% in Pulai and 56% in Simpang Jeram had been reported by the commission at 4pm partly because of rainy weather in many places.
Political observers had previously predicted that a low voter turnout below 70% would benefit the opposition Perikatan Nasional, especially in Simpang Jeram.
The result of the Pulai by-election, which Pakatan Harapan hopes to retain, will determine whether the federal unity coalition will maintain its two-third majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
The coalition, comprising PH, Barisan Nasional and East Malaysian parties, currently commands 147 seats, one short of a two-thirds majority.
Last night, a PH leader urged voters to come out and cast their ballots. Ramkarpal Singh of DAP said the PH-Barisan Nasional alliance would need a turnout of 70% or more to ensure victory in the two contests.
Speaking at an election ceramah, he said the opposition would be hoping for a voter turnout of less than 65% “because with that percentage they can win”.
There are 166,653 voters in Pulai and 40,379 voters in Simpang Jeram, according to EC data.
In Pulai, Pakatan Harapan candidate Suhaizan Kaiat faces Zulkifli Jaafar of Perikatan Nasional and independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi, while in Simpang Jeram, the contest is between Nazri Abdul Rahman (PH) and vascular surgeon Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya (PN) and independent candidate S. Jeganathan.
The two by-elections were held following the death of Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub on July 23. Salahuddin had won Pulai with a majority of 33,174 votes and Simpang Jeram with a 2,399-vote majority in the November general election.
