Live Permatang Pasir polling day
By Regina William, The Edge
10.07am: First-hour turnout at 14.6% or 2,966 voters.
10am: Number of voters turning up at polling stations increasing steadily.
9.58am: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Anwar visit all eight polling stations.
9.54am: Penang police chief Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob says police monitoring polling process, no untoward incidences yet. Police will advice supporters from both sides to stop parading party flags or action will be taken
9.22am: Vehicles bearing numbered stickers with political party colours ferry voters to polling stations since party flags and stickers have been banned by the EC.
9.18am: Anwar vague when asked on reports he met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Putrajaya. He says no, but adds he meets Najib all the time, during parliament and other occasions. He tells journalists to check with source of report.
8.53am: Anwar confident PAS' Mohd Salleh will win by-election with comfortable majority.
8.43am: Despite EC warning to both political parties, more supporters than voters gather near polling stations with party flags.
8.41am: Phantom voters issue in Permatang Pasir also a concern for Pakatan Rakyat, says Anwar.
8.34am: Both candidates are not voters in the constituency but Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and husband opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim are in line to cast their votes at SMK Sri Penanti.
8.17am: Heavy police presence throughout Permatang Pasir constituency. Some party supporters defy Election Commission (EC) warning not to canvass for votes near polling stations.
7.58am: Polling begins for Permatang Pasir by-election amidst gloomy skies.
Eight polling stations opened at 8am and early voters have started to arrive. Permatang Pasir has 20,290 voters.
The seat fell vacant following the death of three-term PAS assemblyman Datuk Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman on July 31. PAS is hoping to retain the seat via its state commissioner Mohd Salleh Man while Barisan Nasional (BN) is fielding Rohaizat Othman.
During the March 8 general election Hamdan secured 11,004 votes to defeat BN's Ahmad Sahar Shuib by 5,433 votes. Voter turnout then was 84% but EC predicts 80% voter turnout today.
The results of the by-election will be announced at 8pm.
