KKB BY-ELECTION | Polling for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election has closed and vote counting is underway.
The contest is a four-way clash involving Pakatan Harapan’s Pang Sock Tao, Perikatan Nasional’s Khairul Azhari Saut, Parti Rakyat Malaysia candidate Hafizah Zainudin, and independent Nyau Ke Xin.
Malaysiakini brings you live updates from the ground.
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This concludes the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
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‘I will represent all KKB folk’
10.30pm: Kuala Kubu Baharu - Harapan’s newly elected assemblyperson Pang Sock Tao expresses appreciation to party machinery supporting her campaign, shortly after the official declaration of her victory.
Pang says she aims to identify immediate problems affecting her new constituents and work towards finding the solutions.
“I will be the people’s representative for all Kuala Kubu Baharu residents regardless of religion, race and background.
“Throughout the campaign, I was here and I will move here as soon as possible,” she says.
12 police reports filed over alleged polls offences
10.17pm: Petaling Jaya, Selangor - Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan says there were 12 police reports lodged and five investigation papers opened in connection with alleged offences throughout the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign.
He says two arrests have been made based on the reports, while seven others saw police taking preventive action.
“The two men arrested were investigated under Section 4(A) of the Elections Act 1954 and charged in court. As for the other four investigation papers that were opened, no arrests were made,” he says in a statement.
He also says a total of 1,133 officers and police personnel from the Selangor contingent were assigned throughout the campaign period, as well as a total of 194 campaign permits and 81 ceramah permits approved.
Pang declared winner
9.49pm: The Election Commission officially declares Harapan’s Pang Sock Tao as the winner of the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
She wins with 57.2 percent of votes, and a majority of 3,869 ballots.
PN bags 10,131 votes or 41.4 percent of the ballot.
The two alternative candidates secure less than one percent of the vote each, meaning they lose their deposits.
9.30pm: Bandar Baru Batang Kali - Selangor PN chairperson Azmin Ali claims the coalition only lost 628 votes in today’s by-election, in comparison to the last general election.
He says PN’s retained its performance despite facing both the federal and Selangor government machinery.
“Our level of support is not impacted. Votes only reduced by 628, and a contributing factor is a significantly lower voter turnout to 61 percent.
“The level of reduced support is much lesser compared to the reduced number of voter turnout. That is a fact,” he says in response to unofficial results that declared a victory for Harapan.
Votes a rejection of PN’s campaign, says Saifuddin
8.17pm - PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says unofficial results in favour of Harapan show a clear acceptance and understanding of the government’s focus to ensure the welfare of the security forces.
He says the votes also showed rejection of PN’s campaign that touched on issues of royalty, race and religion.
“Harapan-BN and the unity government’s campaign offers solutions for the people’s problems.
“PN’s campaign on the other hand has no substance and uses the outdated 3R tactics,” Saifuddin, who is also home minister, tells Malaysiakini.
‘Triple joy’ for Harapan-BN
8.15pm: PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil hints that Harapan candidate Pang Sock Tao will win the by-election, adding another celebration for the coalition government.
The other two celebrations are Fahmi’s party’s 25th anniversary and Umno’s 78th anniversary.
Harapan bags more than 50pct of votes
8.05pm - Harapan has bagged more than 50 percent of votes according to unofficial results.
There are some 3,500 votes still to be counted, but the current tally indicates that Harapan may end up winning with a bigger share of votes this time around.
Both alternative candidates, PRM’s Hafizah Zainuddin and independent Nyau Ke Xin, are on track to lose their deposits having secured less than one percent of the vote each.
Unofficial: Harapan heading for a win
8pm: Malaysiakini is calling the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election in favour of Harapan based on unofficial results.
Based on estimates, Pang Sock Tao needs just around 1,500 votes more to secure more than 50 percent of votes.
PN is trailing by over 3,000 votes as of writing and is unlikely to catch up.
More than 75 percent of votes have been tallied.
All quiet on the PN front
7.45pm: Bandar Baru Batang Kali, Selangor - All is quiet so far at the PN operations centre with only a handful of supporters gathering.
There is also no viewing of the unofficial results.
Media personnel are not allowed to enter the operations centre. A large tent is set up on a nearby field, with mostly empty chairs.
Over 45pct of votes counted
7.30PM - Over 45 percent of votes are tallied according to unofficial sources.
The latest figures have Harapan extending their lead to over 3,000 votes against PN.
The finish line is just a few thousand votes away for Harapan.
Harapan maintaining comfortable lead
7.05pm - With around 15 percent of votes counted, unofficial results show Harapan maintaining a comfortable lead over PN.
As of 7pm, the government coalition has bagged over 3,000 votes while PN is trailing with just under 1,200 votes.
Both alternative candidates, meanwhile, are lagging far behind, although the independent candidate appears to be faring slightly better than PRM for now.
Cheerful atmosphere at Harapan HQ
6.50pm: Ampang Pecah, Selangor - A cheerful atmosphere is apparent at the Harapan operations centre even as the weather remains gloomy, with an early comfortable lead for candidate Pang Sock Tao.
Supporters erupt in cheers every time Pang’s name is mentioned, with an unofficial count giving her a lead of over 1,300 votes so far.
Source: Voter turnout at 62 percent
7pm - According to sources, the final turnout is estimated to be between 61 to 62 percent.
It’s also estimated that turnout among Chinese voters is higher than that of Malay voters, while more than 50 percent of Indian voters also cast their ballots.
Kuala Kubu Baharu is a mixed constituency, where Malay voters make up 49.3 percent of voters, Chinese 30.6 percent, Indian 17.9 percent, and others 2.1 percent.
On paper, the turnout estimates appear to favour Harapan, which has stronger support among non-Malays, while PN’s vote base is primarily Malays.
Harapan popular among police voters
6pm: The Madani coalition appears to be popular among police voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu, according to unofficial sources.
Harapan reportedly secured 249 of the early police ballot, while PN secured 47 votes.
The race is reportedly closer in the military vote, where Harapan bagged 84 votes, and PN 71.
In total, 592 early voters are said to have cast their ballots for Harapan, 156 for PN, and one each for the PRM and independent candidates.
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