Polling Day Polling Closes Stay Tuned For Results

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POLLING DAY | Voting for the six state elections has ended.
News report from the ground.
HIGHLIGHTS
Low turnout upsets PAS leader too
‘Mickey Mouse’ campaigns for Azmin
Low turnout in Selangor rattles Amirudin
Unsealed ballot box halts voting
Anwar urges people to vote early
Incumbent Derga rep makes merry
Amirudin confident of retaining S’gor
Azmin’s family feud continues
Polling ends, stay tuned for live results
6pm: Thank you for following this news report. Polling for the six state elections has closed.
PAS: Statement on Haim Hilman’s rejection as Kedah MB fake
6pm: Petaling Jaya, Selangor - A statement claiming PAS rejects Haim Hilman Abdullah as the next Kedah menteri besar is fake, says party secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.
The statement dated Aug 11 and bearing Takiyuddin’s name has been circulating on social media since last night.
“This statement is fake and has nothing to do with PAS or me,” says Takiyuddin.
Haim Hilman AbdullahHilman, who is a former Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) vice-chancellor, is Perikatan Nasional’s candidate for the Jitra seat.
It is unclear how Hilman’s name cropped up as a possible menteri besar candidate since caretaker menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is expected to be reappointed if PN retains the state.
Penang PN candidate claims opponent violated election laws
5pm: Seberang Jaya, Penang - Perikatan Nasional’s Seberang Jaya candidate Izhar Shah Arif Shah reportedly claims that mock ballot papers are being distributed near tents set up by Pakatan Harapan near polling centres.
According to a Sinar Harian report, he says this is in violation of Section 3(1)(j) of the Election Offences Act 1954 for printing ballot papers without authorisation, and Section 24B of the same Act for campaigning outside of the campaign period.
“I am deeply disappointed to learn that there are booths and tents owned by Harapan that possess or distribute printed materials resembling ballot papers, including at the polling centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pauh Jaya,” he reportedly tells the Malay-language daily.
Izhar plans to report the incident to the Election Commission and the police, the report says.
Voter turnout spikes as polling nears end
4.55pm: Voter turnout in Selangor jumps from 58 percent to 65 percent as of 4pm, with two hours left until the end of voting. 
Penang also records a 7 percent increase from 60 percent to 67 percent.
Meanwhile, turnout in Kedah is at 68 percent, followed by Negeri Sembilan (62 percent) and Kelantan (56 percent).
The Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election has recorded a turnout rate of 67 percent as of 4pm.
The EC announces there will be no more hourly turnout updates until voting closes at 6pm, and the final turnout rate will only be released at a press conference tonight.
Sanusi reveals ballot paper to press
4.20pm: Sik, Kedah - Kwongwah Yitpoh reports that Jeneri candidate Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor flashed his marked ballot paper to the media before casting it into the ballot box. The caretaker menteri besar is a voter at SK Bandar Baru Beris Jaya.
The report, which also includes a purported picture of Sanusi’s alleged act with the ballot paper censored, notes that this is in contravention of Section 5 of the Election Offences Act 1954.
The law stipulates, among others, that no one shall communicate information obtained at a polling station on whom any voter at the station has voted. The offence is punishable with up to one-year imprisonment, a fine up to RM3,000, or both.
A similar occurrence took place during the Kuala Besut by-election in 2013, which earned the BN candidate Tengku Zaihan Che Ku Abdul Rahman a rebuke from the Election Commission chief at the time - Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof - who said the action was inappropriate because it violated ballot secrecy.
With hours to go, T’ganu still tops voter turnout
4pm: Terengganu records the highest voter turnout at 64 percent as of 3pm, followed by Kedah (63 percent) and Penang at (60 percent).
Meanwhile, voter turnout in Selangor is at 58 percent, followed by Negeri Sembilan (56 percent) and Kelantan (51 percent). 
The Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election, meanwhile, records 59 percent turnout.
‘Already voted’: Kedah woman lodges police report
3.30pm: Alor Setar, Kedah: A Kedah woman lodges a police report after she was turned away from voting as her ballot had already been cast by someone else.
According to Rozana Mokhtar, 35, she previously voted in Gunung Semanggol, Perak, and tried to cast her vote for the first time at a polling centre in SK Taman Mahsuri in Alor Setar, Kedah, this morning.
"I asked help from the Election Commission worker on duty and was shocked to find out that my name has already been crossed out.
"I was told that someone else had used my identification card to vote at the Lunas state constituency, last Saturday," Sinar Harian quotes Rozana as saying.
She urges the police and EC to launch an immediate probe into the matter.
Harapan-BN can win 17 seats in Kedah: Mahfuz
3.15pm: Alor Mengkudu, Kedah - State Harapan chief Mahfuz Omar is confident that the BN-Harapan coalition can grab 17 out of 36 seats in the states.
“We were previously confident of 16 seats and last night, it increased to 17. That means we only need two more seats to get a simple majority.
“Perhaps, it was the final touches we did such as the grand finale ceramahs last night where the prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim) gave a clearer message for voters to make a decision,” he says.
EC: Four states have over 50pct turnout
3.11pm: Voter turnout reaches 56 percent in Kedah as of 2pm, 53 percent in Penang, 51 percent in Selangor, 49 percent in Negeri Sembilan and Kelantan 45 percent.
Turnout for the Kuala Terengganu parliament seat is at 52 percent, EC says.
Mahfuz casts his vote
2.30pm: Alor Mengkudu, Kedah - Amanah vice-president Mahfuz Omar casts his vote at the Sultan Sallehuddin Sixth Form College.
Mahfuz Omar (third from left) with his familyThe Kedah Harapan chief is accompanied by his wife and two children.

Go out and vote, Takiyuddin urges votes
2.15pm: PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan rallies Perikatan Nasional supporters to come out and vote, citing a low turnout of only up to 20 percent across six states as of 10am this morning.
"Each and every one of your vote is important and it counts.
"This is not the time to show protest against the election process, or try to spoil your vote, because we should not let this current situation continue," says Takiyuddin.
"By not voting, we have indirectly denied our own rights as Malaysians," he says.
PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin HassanLess than 50 percent of all eligible voters in six states and Kuala Terengganu parliament have cast their ballots as of 1pm today, according to the Election Commission.
PN brings ‘Mickey Mouse’ dancing for vote
1.45pm: Hulu Kelang, Selangor - The scorching hot weather does not seem to bother two groups of Perikatan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan-BN party workers stationed near the SK Hulu Kelang voting centre.
Standing at the side of busy Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2), the workers tirelessly wave their respective party flags to support voters passing by to cast their ballots.
This includes a Mickey Mouse mascot campaigning for PN candidate Azmin Ali, who is seen doing some dances to the amusement of road users.
Fulfil your responsibility, Amirudin pleads amid low S'gor voter turnout
1.30pm: Selangor - Caretaker Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari urges Selangorians to cast their votes in the state polls.
This following announcement by the Election Commission that the voter turnout is only at 36 percent in Selangor, as of noon.
Caretaker Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin ShariIn a short video, Amirudin says the number was six percent short of the turnout in the corresponding period, in last year's general election.
"I urge all Selangorians, whether those who have just finished their half-day shift or have not voted, to cast their votes.
"You have about five hours left to fulfil your responsibilities," he says.
T'ganu tops voter turnout at noon, K’tan the lowest
12.30pm: Voter turnout at noon has reached 42 percent in Terengganu, 41 percent in Kedah, and 38 percent in Penang.
Selangor records a 36 percent turnout, followed by Negeri Sembilan (35 percent) and Kelantan (34 percent).
The Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election, meanwhile, records a 39 percent voter turnout, according to the Election Commission.
The lagging turnout rate after four hours of polling has prompted calls for more electors to come out and cast their ballots today.
Voting suspended after ballot box found unsealed
12.30pm: Paya Terubong, Penang - Voting has been suspended at the SK Sri Relau polling station in Paya Terubong, Penang, after Perikatan Nasional candidate for the state seat, Ooi Ghee Oon, found the ballot box unsealed.
According to Sin Chew Daily, Ooi found the unsealed box, with 177 ballot papers already cast, and asked for Election Commission officials to suspend the voting for the stream, which was supposed to have 719 voters.
EC officials are investigating the matter, and at press time, it is not known whether the 177 votes cast would be invalidated.

‘We need 60pct turnout to win Suka Menanti’
12.30pm: Suka Menanti, Kedah - Harapan candidate Zamri Yusuf is banking on more than 60 percent voter turnout in the constituency in order to win.
He tells Malaysiakini this when met at the Taman Uda polling district, where there are 2,063 registered voters. 
Zamri YusufHowever, he says that in the past four hours since the start of voting, only an average of 50 to 60 voters per hour have come to cast their ballots. 
“I worry about this trend if it maintains. Unless more people turn up in the afternoon. 
“Perhaps it’s because of the rain earlier this morning,” he says.
Voters scramble for shelter as drizzle starts in Gombak Setia
11.15am: Gombak Setia, Selangor - Rain starts drizzling at the voting centre in Gombak Vocational College, catching many voters who have to walk some 200m uphill by surprise.
While some start running to shelter, many others seem unperturbed and continue to walk casually to cast their ballot.
Business booms for trader at Kedah polling station
11am: Bakar Arang, Kedah - Nor Shafinaz Mohd Razi, who operates a warung in front of the SK Sungai Pasir polling station, is working her fingers to the bone today.
Taking advantage of the number of voters who would cast their ballots at the school, the 36-year-old street food vendor reveals that she has extended her business’ operating hours from the usual 11am-3pm to 8am-6pm.
“After I cast my vote at this school, my family and I quickly opened our stall for business. We have been busy all morning.
“On other days, our business only depends on the school staff and students but today, majority of the voters would come and buy drinks as well as food from us after they have voted,” she says. Shafinaz is joined by her elderly mother and siblings.
Sanusi’s brother turns down job offer to vote
11am: Sik, Kedah - It is a family affair for caretaker Kedah menteri besar and Jeneri incumbent Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor as all of his 12 siblings and parents go out to vote this morning.
Utusan Malaysia quotes Sanusi’s older brother, Shabudin Md Nor, as saying that he was supposed to accept a job offer in Saudi Arabia and Qatar last week but decided to turn them down due to the state election today.
“Insya-Allah after this I will fly to another country.
“I am not worried about work because now there are many opportunities with the global increase in oil price,” says Shabudin, 57, the second of Sanusi’s siblings.
Voter turnout breaches 20pct in T’ganu
10.51am: Voter turnout in the second hour of voting has reached 22 percent in Terengganu, and 20 percent in Kedah and Penang.
Selangor records a 19 percent turnout, followed by Negeri Sembilan (18 percent) and Kelantan (17 percent). 
The Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election, meanwhile, records a 19 percent voter turnout, according to the Election Commission.
The lagging turnout rate in the first two hours of polling thus far has prompted calls for more electors to come out and cast their ballots today.
Long hike for Gombak Setia voters
10.50am: Gombak Setia, Selangor - Voting has become a somewhat daunting task for voters who are assigned to a polling centre at the Gombak Vocational College.
Malaysiakini finds that electors at the location, including senior citizens and those with small children, have to walk about 200m uphill from the college’s main gate to reach a hall that is being used as the polling centre.
To ease the situation, the Election Commission provides several vehicles to ferry those who are not able to walk long distances, while several voting assistants are also on duty to push wheelchair-bound voters.
One of them, Shahrum Khalid, 44, says the long distance proves difficult for people with disabilities but appreciates EC for providing assistance to make sure they can exercise their rights.
“But I pity him because he has to push me all the way up this hill,” he says, pointing to an EC worker who is helping him. The assistant, however, allays Shahrum’s concern and says it’s his duty to help.
Incumbent Derga rep frets about ‘low turnout’
10.40am: Derga, Kedah - There is a low voter turnout in Derga, particularly among the youth, claims incumbent assemblyperson Tan Kok Yew. 
Tan, who earlier cast his vote at SMK Sultanah Asma, says 15 percent of voters have shown up as of 10am.
“I appeal to all voters to come out (and vote), the average of youths (voting in Derga) is still low. I hope they are still on the way back from other states,” he tells reporters. 
Tan Kok Yew (left)However, Tan says he’s hopeful he can retain the seat, albeit with a smaller majority. 
The Kedah DAP chief is going against Perikatan Nasional’s Muhammad Amri Wahab in a straight fight. 
Tan won the seat in 2018 with 51 percent of votes in a three-cornered contest.
Voter turnout up to 10pct as of 9am
10.35am: Petaling Jaya, Selangor - Voter turnout as of 9am stands at 10 percent for the Kedah, Terengganu, Pulau Pinang, and Selangor state polls, as well as the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.
Voter turnout in Negeri Sembilan stands at 9 percent, followed by Kelantan at 8 percent, according to the Election Commission.
PM: All is calm in 6 states
10:10am: Permatang Pauh, Penang - Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says, from his monitoring so far, the atmosphere in the six states is in a good and calm situation.
He urges voters to fulfil their responsibility as voters, after he casts his ballot in Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Penanti.
"Hope that (voters) can come out to vote early, don't postpone your responsibility to vote early. "
"This is a state election, in the meantime, the federal government will carry out duty as usual starting tomorrow.
“We will continue our work and the results will determine the leadership of the new state government,’ Anwar says.
Asked where will he go when tonight when the result is out, Anwar says he will go to Cherok Tok Kun and then back to Kuala Lumpur.
"I am just monitoring like this only, I didn’t focus on any specific area."

Incumbent Derga rep makes merry at voting station
10am: Derga, Kedah - Incumbent Derga assemblyperson Tan Kok Yew arrives at SMK Sultanah Asma to cast his vote. 
As he walks to his voting stream, he greets locals, Election Commission personnel, and police staff working at the polling centre.
Incumbent Derga assemblyperson Tan Kok Yew (left)Earlier, he even helped direct locals to find their voting streams.
Anwar, wife vote in Penang
9.40am: Permatang Pauh, Penang - Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim casts his vote at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Penanti.
The PKR president, who is wearing a blue shirt, is accompanied by his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Many voters are taking the opportunity to talk to him and take a photo with the prime minister.
Anwar and Wan Azizah both cast their vote at 9.40am.
Dr M, wife cast their votes
9.22am: Anak Bukit, Kedah - Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali cast their ballots for the Anak Bukit seat.
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed and wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd AliTaking to Twitter, the nonagenarian notes he didn't see many others coming out to vote at the time.
"I hope voters will come out in large numbers as this state election is important to determine the future of the states, and also our country," says Mahathir.
Azmin - People want change
9am: Hulu Kelang, Selangor - Perikatan Nasional’s Hulu Kelang candidate Azmin Ali is confident of winning the state seat, and of the coalition capturing Selangor after today’s election.
The former Selangor menteri besar says the support received during PN’s “mega finale” campaign event last night is indicative of the rakyat’s discontent against Pakatan Harapan.
“It is a manifestation that the people want a total change, not only in Selangor but nationwide.
“Selangor is already a developed state, but PN wants to elevate it further, not by making empty promises like Harapan, but by implementing actual policies,” he tells reporters after casting his vote at Sekolah Kebangsaan Klang Gate this morning. He is accompanied by his wife Shamsida Taharin.
Azmin is up against Harapan candidate Juwairiya Zulkifli.
Caretaker K’tan deputy MB casts his vote
8.30am: Panchor, Pengkalan Chepa - Caretaker Kelantan deputy menteri besar Mohd Amar Abdullah casts his vote at the voting centre in Sekolah kebangsaan Panji in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
The PAS vice-president, who was clad in a green batik shirt, was accompanied by his wife Hasmani Hussain.
Amar is competing against Pakatan Harapan candidate Syed Mohd Alidustur Syed Mohd Zain to defend the Panchor state seat, which he has held since 2004.
Amirudin optimistic about retaining Harapan-BN rule in S'gor
9am: Selayang, Selangor - Caretaker Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari is optimistic that Pakatan Harapan-BN will retain the state administration.
Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, together with his wife Masdiana Muhamad at SJKT Selayang Baru this morning, the Sungai Tua Adun, also expresses hope that there would be an increase in Malay votes.
Caretaker Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari"I'm 70 to 80 percent optimistic, but hopefully there will be an increase in Malay seats to enable us to capture 40 to 41 seats, which is more than a two-thirds majority.
"We worked day and night (for the election) and today is the day of judgement. I’m confident the non-Malays will come out and vote too," he says.
To avoid the traffic jam, Amirudin, and his wife came on a motorcycle, which he says would also ease his travel to other polling centres under the Sungai Tua constituency.
I didn’t choose Azmin, Azwan says
8.30am: Hulu Kelang, Selangor - After voting, Azwan Ali tells reporters he did not vote for his brother Azmin.
"(My vote) wasn't for flesh and blood, no voting for siblings," he says.
Azwan AliAzwan says that his attempts to make amends with Azmin had been ignored, so now he would be teaching him a lesson.
He adds that he voted for someone who can be a capable leader.

Siblings cast early votes in Bandar Country Homes
8.30am: Rawang, Selangor - A group of four siblings became the first to vote at SK Taman Desa 2 in Bandar Country Homes today, after lining up at 6.30am.
The youths - Siti Nur Aleya Shafiqah Ridzuan, 25, Mohd Rasydan Raziq, 23, Mohd Danial Iqbal, 21, and Siti Nur Alyssa Nabila, 18 - say they are enthusiastic to cast ballots today to show that youths too take the democratic process seriously.
"It is the first time our sister Alyssa voting, so we want her to have a smooth ballot-casting experience.
"We also want to show that the youth have a realisation on the importance of voting now. So that's why we arrived at 6.30am," says the eldest child Aleya.
8.15am: Panchor, Kelantan - Disabled youth Zairul Akmar, 20, is among the first to vote at SK Panji, Kota Bharu.
It's the second time the youth, who has a knee disability and uses a walker to move about, is voting, with the first being GE15.
He was accompanied by his mother Anne Suhaida Abdul Rashid, 50.
8:15am: Hulu Kelang, Selangor - Actor Azwan Ali is seen waiting outside the voting centre SK Klang Gate, where his brother Azmin Ali will cast his ballot.
The two have an adversarial relationship, with Azwan having contested against Azmin for the Bukit Antarabangsa state seat in 2018.
Azmin AliAzmin had moved from Bukit Antarabangsa to Hulu Kelang which is seen as a safer seat for him after losing the Gombak parliament seat last year.
8am: Voters in the six state elections and the Kuala Terengganu by-election will be casting their ballots from 8am to 6pm.
The contest for Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan is Anwar Ibrahim’s first litmus test since becoming prime minister eight months ago. 
His rivals from Perikatan Nasional have described the elections as a referendum on his leadership and the Pakatan Harapan-BN coalition government, with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang claiming the outcome could also change the equation in Putrajaya.
PN is hoping to capitalise on the “Green Wave” which carried the nascent coalition across the finish line in 73 federal seats in last November’s general election, largely due to Malay-Muslim votes, and forced Harapan and BN to form an alliance. - Mkini

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