SG BAKAP POLLS | Polling for the Sungai Bakap state by-election has closed.

The contest was a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan’s Joohari Arifin and Perikatan Nasional’s Abidin Ismail.

Malaysiakini brings you live updates from the ground.

A protest against the govt, victorious candidate says

10.30pm: Jawi, Nibong Tebal - Sungai Bakap assemblyperson-elect Abidin Ismail says his victory is the result of the people’s protest against the government.

“Yes, this is a protest against the government putting pressure on the people. Alhamdulillah, we have won with a greater majority than the state election,” he tells the media.

Meanwhile, his Pakatan Harapan challenger Joohari Ariffin says he has done his part to help foster a harmonious campaign environment, and hopes the opposition will do the same in coming elections.

PN makes notable gains in Sg Bakap

10.15pm - Perikatan Nasional made some notable gains in today’s by-election.

A quick analysis showed the percentage of votes won by the opposition went up from 52.7 percent last year to 58.6 percent.

On the flip side, Pakatan Harapan’s vote share fell from 47.3 percent to 41.4 percent.

PN also increased their majority by 2,704 votes to 4,267.

Data also show that PN suffered minimal losses from the lower turnout of 62.9 percent.

While about 4,500 fewer voters turned up today compared to the state election last year, PN’s total votes only decreased by 944.

The lower turnout hit Harapan the worst, as they had 3,648 fewer votes today.

PN officially wins Sg Bakap with larger majority

9.35pm: Jawi, Nibong Tebal - Perikatan Nasional candidate Abidin Ismail is officially declared the winner of the Sungai Bakap state by-election, garnering a larger majority of 4,267 votes than his predecessor’s 1,563 votes.

Abidin, who is also the Nibong Tebal PAS vice-chief, managed to secure 14,489 votes against his challenger Joohari Ariffin’s 10,222 votes.

The announcement was made by returning officer Khairulnizam Hashim at the Jawi Multipurpose Hall.

Also present are Election Commission chairperson Ramlan Harun and his deputy Azmi Sharom.

Harapan’s loss in Sg Bakap due to national issues, CM says

8.00pm: Sungai Jawi, Nibong Tebal - Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow says Pakatan Harapan’s defeat today, and the decline in Chinese votes, were due to national issues.

“It’s nothing to do with the candidate’s (problem). It’s the national issues, the subsidy, perceived inflation, cost of living, and the burden the people have to face with all this…

“It is probably we lost the narrative, despite all the effort, but the narrative, this did not produce the result (that we want),” he tells reporters at the Bukit Jawi Golf Resort here today.

Asked whether the credibility of Harapan’s candidate Joohari Arifin was a factor in the loss, Chow says the result indicated that it is beyond the candidate as they have worked hard throughout the campaign period.

Sg Bakap now a major Malay seat, Rafizi says

7.40pm - PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli claims the results tonight are a reflection of poor turnout among non-Malays.

In a post on X, he says that early analysis shows Malay voter turnout was 70 percent, while only 47 percent Chinese and 58 percent Indian voters cast their ballots.

“With a stark difference in turnout between Malay and non-Malay voters, the Sungai Bakap seat has become a major Malay-majority seat.

“Even though there was a small shift in Malay votes, the results are largely influenced by the number of voters who turned up,” Rafizi adds.

UNOFFICIAL: PN retains Sungai Bakap

7.34pm - Malaysiakini is declaring a Perikatan Nasional win in the Sungai Bakap by-election.

With 62 of the 66 ballot boxes counted thus far, PN is leading by around 3,700 votes and has crossed the 50 percent threshold by Malaysiakini’s estimates.

Pakatan Harapan is unlikely to catch up and win the race.

Harapan trailing

7.18pm - Things are not looking good for Pakatan Harapan.

With 33 out of 66 ballot boxes accounted for, according to unofficial results, Harapan’s Joohari is trailing by almost 2,000 votes as of writing.

PN extends lead

7.15pm - Perikatan Nasional continues to extend its lead over Pakatan Harapan as the flow of unofficial results picks up the pace.

As of writing, PN is leading by over 1,000 votes.

PN takes early lead

7.00pm - Unofficial results are trickling in.

While the first set of results, including postal ballots, had Pakatan Harapan in the lead, Perikatan Nasional appears to have pulled ahead.

As of 7pm, PN has over 1,300 votes so far, while Harapan has around 1,000.

Lower turnout expected

6.00pm - The final turnout for the Sungai Bakap by-election is expected to be slightly lower than during the state election last year.

The final update given by the Election Commission was that turnout as of 4pm was at 57.7 percent.

The trend indicates that turnout may exceed 65 percent.

During the state election last year, voter turnout was 76.9 percent.