Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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(April 27): Penang has declared May 7, the Permatang Pauh by-election polling day, a state holiday.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state executive council had made the decision and an announcement would be made by the state government.

"We hope the private sector can also observe the state holiday. If they cannot, we hope they can allow their staff, who are Permatang Pauh voters, some time to go and cast their votes.

"We also hope voters who are working outstation can come home on May 7 to exercise their rights," he told reporters after launching the Penang Museum's 50th anniversary in George Town this morning.

There are about 6,000 outstation voters in Permatang Pauh, whom Pakatan Rakyat is trying to convince to return home for the polls.

It was also reported that the PR-governed state had postponed its state legislative assembly, which was scheduled to begin later this week, until the by-election has concluded.

PR is defending the parliamentary seat with PKR candidate Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. She held the seat three times after winning it in the 1999 by-election and 2004 and 2008 general elections before her husband, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, returned to politics.

She is up against Barisan Naional newcomer Suhaimi Sabudin, 43, a construction company managing director from Guar Perahu, Permatang Pauh.

The Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency has 71,513 voters, of whom 70% are Malays while Chinese, Indians and others make up the remaining 20%, 6% and 4% respectively.

There are three state seats in Permatang Pauh. PKR holds Penanti and Seberang Jaya while PAS holds Permatang Pasir.

In the 2013 polls, Anwar retained the seat with 37,090 or 58.56% of the total 63,332 votes cast, with an 11,721 majority.

Barisan Nasional’s Dr Mazlan Ismail garnered 25,369 or 40.06% of the total votes while independent candidate Dr Abdullah only received 201 votes (0.32%) and lost his deposit.

Based on the analysis of the 2013 results, Anwar received 40% Malay votes, 88% Chinese votes and 60% Indian votes to win the seat.

His biggest win was in PAS stronghold – the Permatang Pasir state seat – where he won 13,266 (66%) of the 19,965 votes cast in the 2013 polls, with a 6,632-vote majority.

In Penanti and Seberang Jaya, the two state seats won by PKR in the last general election, Anwar won 58% and 56% of the votes respectively. – The Malaysian Insider

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