Low voter turnout in Penanti expected today
ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR, NST
Nonetheless, Penanti electors found themselves overwhelmed with issues in this tame and somewhat insignificant by-election.
The constitutional impasse in Perak, criticism of the Barisan Nasional Federal Government and Umno were brought up throughout the seven days of campaigning, despite the coalition not having anything to do with the by-election.
The BN had opted to stay out of Parti Keadilan Rakyat's-manufactured by-election but was still attacked by opposition leaders making a beeline to the constituency to ensure that Dr Mansor Othman received as many votes as possible from the 15,384 Penanti electorate who will cast their ballots at eight schools and a community hall today.
The by-election has turned into a battle of mobilising sufficient turnout and for the fence-sitters to swing to the PKR. With BN's absence, the pressure is on PKR to prove that there will be no reduction in its votes.
Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin won the seat for PKR with a 2,219-vote majority in the last general election.
The by-election was called after Fairus quit the seat on April 16, a week after resigning as the state's deputy chief minister I following graft allegations. He has since been cleared.
PKR, Pas and DAP campaign workers have worked feverishly with the target of winning a significant majority and seeing all three independent candidates in the race lose their deposits.
These two factors and the genuine fear of Umno supporters abstaining from voting are reasons the number of campaign activities is no less than those in past by-elections, with the full involvement of senior Pakatan Rakyat leaders in public rallies.
The climax was a rally of Pakatan heavyweights Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, PKR de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Pas vice-president Mohamad Sabu, PKR vice-president Azmin Ali and Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
Even so, turnout is expected to be lower than the 82 per cent recorded last year.
"Our realistic target is 7,000 votes with a voter turnout of between 65 and 70 per cent," PKR elections director Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.
At the most, it will be a morale booster for designated deputy chief minister I Mansor to walk home the victor.
This is his fourth attempt in an election, after losing in three general elections in 1999, 2004 and last year.
Former PKR Penang Wanita chief Aminah Abdullah, who has been making headlines with her allegations that PKR had tried to bribe her from contesting, will get some sympathy votes but will find it hard to retain her deposit.
Like Aminah, former local Gerakan leader Nai Khan Ari Nai Keow has depended on family members and friends to help out in his campaign.
For someone who mustered only 62 votes in the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election, the third independent candidate, Kamarul Ramizu Idris, could end up with even fewer votes this time since he has hardly been on the ground.
Aminah is contesting using the key symbol, Nai the kite symbol and Kamarul Ramizu the umbrella — similar to the one he had used in Bukit Gantang.
The weather, expected to be hot and clear today, will not be standing in the way of those wanting to exercise their right to vote.
