(May 7): Counting has begun in the Permatang Pauh by-election, after an eventful day which saw Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat supporters’ trade punches outside one polling centre and accusation of phantom voters.

Tension ran high and midway through polling, the Election Commission (EC) had to cancel several of its visiting programmes to polling centres on police advice due to security factors.

Its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said he and his deputy Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah were scheduled to visit four polling centres but due to police advice, he could only visit one polling centre in Seberang Jaya.

He was informed that several untoward incidents had taken place such as objects being thrown, verbal abuse and threats from supporters of the parties contesting in the by-election.

Pakatan Rakyat is expected to retain the seat held by its PKR ally since 1999 with results expected after 9pm.

Voter turnout as of 4pm was said to be around 69%. In the 13th General Election, the turnout was 88.3%.

This is a four-cornered fight among PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, new face from BN Suhaimi Sabudin, candidate from Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) Azman Shah Othman, and independent Salleh Isahak.

The by-election was called following the rejection of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's royal pardon following his five-year jail term for sodomy. – The Malaysian Insider