REGISTERED voters for the Sungai Bakap by-election are advised to come out early to cast their votes.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that based on information from the Election Commission (EC), the voter turnout was at 24.5% as of 11am.
“I think the voter turnout in the morning is at an acceptable level, but hopefully more will come to cast their votes in the afternoon and evening.
“I also visited several polling stations today, including SMK Bandar Tasek Mutiara, SJK(C) Boon Beng, SMK Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, and SK Sungai Bakap.
“I am glad to see that the voting process has gone smoothly so far.
“Hopefully, the fine weather in the morning will continue until evening so that more voters will come out. I also hope voters will come early and not wait until the last minute to cast their ballots,” Chow told Buletin Mutiara during his visit to SK Sungai Bakap this morning.
Also present were state Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye, who is also the Jawi assemblyman, and Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik.
A total of 39,151 registered voters will cast their ballots to elect a new representative in the Sungai Bakap by-election today.
Nine polling centres with 65 channels will be open from 8 am to 6 pm, and the vote-tallying process will be conducted at the Jawi multipurpose hall in Taman Desa Jawi.
In total, 39,279 voters are eligible to cast ballots, including 57 police personnel.
The Sungai Bakap by-election features a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan candidate Dr Joohari Ariffin and Perikatan Nasional candidate Abidin Ismail.
The seat became vacant following the death of the incumbent, Nor Zamri Latiff from Perikatan Nasional, on May 24 due to stomach inflammation.