SG LIMAU After a hectic 12 days of campaigning by BN and PAS, Sungai Limau’s 27,222 voters today decide on their new assemblyperson to replace the late Azizan Abdul Razak, the former Kedah MB who died on Sept 26.
BN's Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim, 53, is contesting against PAS' Mohd Azam Samat, 37, in a straight fight.
BN has been campaigning on the foundation of its “Dare To Migrate” slogan while PAS hopes to "Retain" the Sg Limau seat it has held since 1995.
In the 13th general election in May, Azizan retained the state seat for the fifth time with a 2,774-vote majority in a four-cornered fight that included his cousin Mohd Fazillah Mohd Ali from BN.
Of the total registered voters in Sungai Limau, 25,323 or 93 percent are Malays, 1,842 Chinese (6.7 percent), 15 Indians (0.6 percent) and the rest comprising of other races.
58 streams at 17 voting centres will be opened from 8am until 5pm, with the Election Commission (EC) expecting a high 90 percent turnout.
LIVE REPORTS
5:10PM, SMK Agama Yan, Yan - EC personnel are on standby for ballot boxes to be delivered to their base here now that polling stations have closed.
EC officers have refused to confirm if there will be a press conference at 6pm but says to "stand by" as the EC chief, Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof is expected to come by the centre soon and may decide to speak to the press.
At least 20 reporters and crew from media outlets such as RTM, TV3 and Bernama are already here waiting.
5.00pm, SJK (C) Aik Min, Sungai Limau Luar - The voting process is officialy over and EC officials now begin to seal the ballot boxes.
Some 50 supporters from PAS and BN that are lingering outside the polling station are requested by police to disperse.
The polling station spokesperson says the vote-counting process will begin immediately before the ballot boxes are sent to the main tally centre at SMK Agama Yan.
The result is expected to be revealed by 10pm tonight.
4.55pm - The EC states that 83.2 percent or 22,642 voters have voted as at 4pm. Less than 5,000 voters have yet to cast their ballot but they still have five minutes to do so as polling officially ends at 5pm.
Meanwhile, Anak Bukit assemblyperson Amiruddin Hamzah claims he did not hear about the case of a PAS supporter allegedly punching a Wanita Umno member in Ulu Sedaka at about 8.45am this morning.
"I was there, but did not hear of the case," he says.
Amiruddin, together with PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar, is at the party's main operations centre in Padang Lumat to await the results of the poll.
PAS candidate Mohd Azam Samat is expected to drop by the centre later.
4.00pm, Yan - Kedah PAS Youth chief Nasir Zakaria says he only came to know about the allegation that a Wanita Umno member was allegedly punched by a member of the wing from news portals.
However, the Terap MP says he leaves it to the authorities to investigate further.
“I leave it to the police to probe this matter,” he tells Malaysiakini.
3.36pm, Yan - BN candidate Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim related that in an unnerving incident at 11am this morning, the car was in was kicked more than ten times at a school in Sungai Dedap which is a voting centre, Bernama reports.
He believed it was done by a group of supporters from PAS. He expressed regret there were groups spoiling the peace of the area but said he believed locals were not involved.
"I know the people here, this behavior is not a reflection of them. I believed outsiders are responsible."
He does not intend to make a police report.
In other incidents a motorcyclist from Unit Amal PAS fell in trying to avoid another motorcyclist said to be from BN, while in another school, supporters from BN and PAS engaged in a war of words but it went no further.
3.36pm - As at 3pm, 20,876 (76.69 percent) registered voters have cast their votes.
3pm, Yan - Kedah police chief Ahmad Ibrahim reveals that 14 police reports were lodged and up to three investigation papers were opened yesterday, the last day of the Sungai Limau by-election campaign period, which ended at midnight last night.
This brings the total number of police reports lodged in the duration of the 12-day campaign period, beginning from nomination day on Oct 23, to 118, while in all, seven investigation papers have been opened.
2.30pm - According to the EC, up to 18,843, or 69.22 percent, have voted as at 2pm.
1.15PM, Yan - Kedah police confirms that it received a report on an incident in which a Wanita Umno member was allegedly punched at Ulu Sedaka in Yan.
According to Bernama, Bandar Baru Sentul Wanita Umno division chief Norsidah Abu Bakar was allegedly punched by a PAS supporter when canvassing for votes outside the SK Ulu Sedaka polling centre earlier this morning.
The report on the 8.45am incident was lodged by Seputeh Wanita Umno chief Azizah Abdul Samad and Kedah police chief Ahmad Ibrahim says the case is being investigated under Section 354 for Assault or use of criminal force to a person with intent to outrage modesty.
The victim is currently being treated at Hospital Yan.
Bernama also adds that Kedah Mentri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir has expressed regret at the alleged incident, which would have a negative effect on BN voters.
He said BN will not respond in a similar manner, that no response was necessary. He added that these kinds of incidents called high levels of patience.
However, when earlier questioned on the incident, PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar denied any knowdledge of the incident, stating he had yet to hear of it. (See 10.10am entry)
1pm, SJKC Aik Min, Sungai Limau Luar - The polling station that has the highest number of Chinese voters here sees the oldest constituent at 97-years-old showing up to vote.
Ng Ken, born in 1916, is spotted in a wheelchair along with her children, all casting their ballots.
After voting the group show off their fingers which are marked with indelible ink.
Asked how many times she has been voting, the nanogenarian answers in Hokkien, "Beh ki liao." (I forget).
Not missing any general election since Independence in 1957, Ng quips that her main reason to vote is just to join the election merriment.
1pm - The EC says as at 12pm, 15,046 voters (55%) have already turned out to vote.
EC chief Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof says this rate is the best in the country's election record, with 15 percent of voters on average turning up every hour.
12.08pm Sg Limau Dalam - Gerakan national youth chief Tan Keng Liang is making his rounds, saying he's been stuck in a long jam in the area.
"I just hope that voters can come out in time to vote as the jam is massive," he says.
"I've been stuck for 20 minutes but those coming from Alor Setar are stuck in a worse jam," he adds.
12pm SJKC Peihwa, Batu 17 - In the sweltering heat, spirits are high between the BN and PAS supporters who are separated by a 50m margin.
Both sides are seen shouting and thumping at cars carrying their respective party flags as the vehicles pass, while those carrying the opponent's flags are booed.
PAS candidate Mohd Azam Samat drops by to thank voters.
"Still taking photos of me? I don't look so nice now as it is very hot and I am sweating," he says.
Azam says that he is hoping more will turn out to vote as he hears that many have not yet done so
"Insyaallah, everything will be okay soon," he says.
11.25am, SMK Bukit Besar - After voting, former MB Azizan's widow Faekah Sheikh Hamzah says the fake SMS using her name that made rounds starting 11pm last night saying she hopes BN will win is regrettable.
The SMS claims she hopes for PAS to lose because of the way some members have humiliated her late husband.
"Of course I hope PAS will win," she says.
12.10pm, SMK Padang Lumat, Sungai Limau Luar - PAS supporters are instructed by the police not to display a black flag bearing the name of Prophet Muhammad written in Jawi in front of the polling station.
Three policemen warn the group to keep the flag or else it will be confiscated.
"This is not a party flag, you are not supposed to show it," says one of the police personnel to the crowd.
After minutes of negotiation, the supporters' spokesperson Omar Abdul Aziz agrees to compromise.
"Umno is not Islamic, they are scared of seeing the flag," he laments.
11.54am - According to Bernama the EC confirms a 12,166 (44.07%) turnout as at 11am.
11.24am, SK Bukit Besar - KiniTV's journalist Sumisha Naidu says she was unaware that it was illegal to interview voters in the school compound when she was ordered to leave this morning.
Earlier at 8.15am, EC officer and a policeman ordered her to leave a polling station near here saying it is an offence.
"Yes, it's my fault but it was unintentional," she says, as there were other journalists in the area also interviewing voters and since they were not in the voting area proper, she thought it was permitted.
11.10am, Jln Gurun, Padang Lumat, Sungai Limau Luar - Traffic is at a crawl up to 10km the main road leading to Bukit Choras is slow moving.
The congestion starts from Guar Cempedak town, some 7km away from Sungai Limau.
Besides voters who are heading to polling stations to cast their votes, many cars with party flags are spotted stuck in the jam as well.
At least two polling stations are located along the main road - SJKC Aik Min and SJKC Pei Hwa - both serving the highest number of Chinese voters.
10.55am, SMK Bukit Besar, BN pondok panas - Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir visiting the pondok panas says optimistically, "As usual, when there is a high turnout of voters, the chances of BN winning is also high."
A while later the late Azizan Abdul Razak's widow Faekah Sheikh Hamzah arrives to cast her vote, accompanied by former Hulu Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad.
She pauses at the gate for photographers.
10.35am, SK Dulang Kechil - Four BN supporters almost get punched in their face as they try to answer nature's call at a small mosque near here as a group of PAS supporters try to stop their entry.
They engage in a war of words for a few minutes and show fighting gestures but no one is hurt as several policemen intervene and stop the scuffle.
10.10am, SK Dulang Besar - PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar drops in to greet supporters, expressing confidence that the voting process will go smoothly.
He asked if there was a scuffle reported in the Sedaka area, he replies, "I have not heard about it.".
"The fights in Umno (areas) are even worse," he tells reporters.
Mahfuz, who is also PAS Pokok Sena MP, says supporters will gather at the markas PAS induk in Padang Lumat for the results at 5pm.
"We will have our grand finale in a ceramah here at Dulang Besar," he says.
According to the Sg Limau EC's public relations officer Sabri Said, so far, 3,927 (14.43%) have come out to vote.
9.30am, SMK Bukit Besar - Some 50m from the main gate to the polling centre, BN supporters and canvassers for votes begin yelling “Hidup BN (Long live BN)” each time a car ferrying voters drive through the main road leading to the school.
They cheer and wave mini BN flags.
About 10m away from them, a PAS group is gathered, thanking voters as they pass them by.
9.30am, SK Dulang, Dulang Besar - The campaign period may have ended at midnight, but BN and PAS supporters are still seen campaigning.
Supporters of both camps are lined on either side of the road, teasing one another.
PAS supporters carrying banners condemning the soon to be introduced goods and services tax (GST) and the expected inflation, while waving their green flags and yalling "Hancur BN (Destroy BN), undur BN (BN retreat) and balik BN (go home BN)".
Meanwhile, BN’s Umno Puteri members are seen carrying blue umbrellas, a large photo of Sohaimi and "I love BN" flags.
When a PAS supporter tries to take photos of the BN supporters, they use their umbrellas to hide their faces.
However, SK Dulang voting centre supervisor Yusuf Abdullah (below) meets PAS supporters to tell them to move back as they are crossing the 50-metre dividing line.
They comply and soon begin their sloganeering while BN supporters remain quiet, saying, "When they stop, we'll start".
A wanita Umno quiped: "They (PAS supporters) did not take their medicines today, that's why they are shouting like this".
When a PAS supporter cries "Barang Naik!", the same woman replies, "BR1M naik, tak kata apa pon (BR1M goes up but you don’t say anything about that".
9.20am, SMK Bukit Besar - Vote canvassers for both PAS and BN are gathered near the Bukit Besar health clinic.
Some of them thank voters for casting their votes and they eagerly await for more to arrive.
Former Hulu Selangor MP Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad of PAS is among the PAS supporters gathered at the clinic near the polling centre to thank voters.
8.30am, SK Dulang - BN candidate Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim arrives at SK Dulang with his wife Siti Bunga to cast his vote.
When asked if he is nervous, Sohaimi, 53, clad in a blue baju melayu, does not reply but smiles at journalists.
Later after voting, he poses and proudly shows his finger marked with indelible ink.
"Everything is okay. We will reach our climax tonight," he tells Malaysiakini as he leaves the voting centre.
On his way out, he meets a senior citizen on a wheelchair and tells the latter’s helper, "Bring her in properly."
"I thank all the voters for coming out early to vote. Things look calm and traffic is smooth. Alhamdulillah, the weather is fine and I hope voters will carry out their responsibilities without disturbances," he adds.
He further expresses hope that a high percentage of voters will come out to vote.
"Whatever it is, life goes on after this," he adds, saying he will be going around voting centres to thank voters.
Sohaimi also thanks the EC and voting centre supervisor Yusof Abdullah for their professionalism in carrying out their duties.
Sohami's three daughters and son also came to vote, and as they depart, tell reporters, "Kam siah (Hokkien for thank you)”.
8.26am, SMK Bukit Besar - PAS’ candidate Mohd Azam Samat arrives at the polling centre with his wife.
He is all smiles as he casts his vote.
8am, Dulang Besar - The weather is perfect for a by-election, with sunlight and blue skies over green padi fields.
Even so, the Sg Limau by-election is off to a slow start.
At SMK Dulang, PAS supporters have set up a booth (pondok panas) about 50 metres from the polling centre.
PAS worker Zaharah Ahmad (left in photo), 58, from Alor Setar, who registers voters, says that so far only ten have come to vote.
Dulang Besar is a BN stronghold, but Zaharah is confident. "We will win here", she says.
