UNOFFICIAL: PN retains Sungai Bakap after lower voter turnout

Perikatan Nasional is believed to have secured a 4,133-vote majority with seven out of eight polling districts counted.

(FMT) – Perikatan Nasional has retained the Sungai Bakap state seat in Penang, securing a 4,133-vote majority, according to early unofficial results.

An hour after the counting of ballots began, PN’s Abidin Ismail was believed to have obtained more than 14,000 votes to the 9,600 obtained by Joohari Ariffin of Pakatan Harapan.

Election observers said there had been a lower turnout of voters, with an unofficial count showing total turnout at 68%. Although more Malay voters cast their ballots, fewer Chinese and Indian voters were believed to have turned out.

A total of 39,279 people were eligible to vote.

The seat fell vacant following the death of assemblyman Nor Zamri Latiff of PAS in May. Zamri, who was the Nibong Tebal PAS division chief, was elected at the state assembly elections last year, defeating PH candidate Nurhidayah Che Rose with a majority of 1,563 votes.

Police said voting had gone smoothly from 8am to 6pm, and no complaints had been lodged on any violation of the voting process or the by-election.