Polling starts for Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections (Updated)

SUNGAI BESAR: Polling for the much anticipated Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections have officially started.
A stream of voters have already cast their votes, most of whom were senior citizens in Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Limau, which is one of the 30 polling centres in the Sungai Panjang and Sekinchan areas that make up Sungai Besar.
As of 12pm, the total number of voters in Sungai Besar has reached 45%.
Among them was Asmah Hassan, who at the ripe age of 107, came to carry out her duty.
The centurion was wheelchair-bound and was accompanied by her granddaughter.
"I am used to voting, this is my responsibility and I am glad I came today," she told reporters with gusto.
Barisan Nasional candidate Budiman Zohdi also voted at this polling centre earlier today as well.
Party Amanah Negara's (PAN) candidate Azhar Shukor and PAS' Dr Abdul Rani Osman however, are not registered to vote in this constituency and as such will not be voting.
But it is learnt that they will be making rounds at various polling centres during the day.
Meanwhile at KUALA KANGSAR, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid was among the early voters to cast her ballot for the by-election here today.
Mastura, 55, voted at Sekolah Raja Perempuan Muzwin here at about 8.40am and was accompanied by her mother.
There was a hive of activity near the polling centre with party supporters from BN, Pas and PAN holding party flags and banners in their effort to canvas support for their candidates.
However, three candidates Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad of PAS, Amanah's Prof Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli, and independent Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary are not going to cast their votes as they are not registered voters in Kuala Kangsar.
The PAS candidate is registered in Parit while the Amanah candidate in Shah Alam and the independent candidate in Kelantan.
The percentage of voters increased to 36% as at 11am in Kuala Kangsar. It started slow with a turn-out rate of 11% one hour after the 23 polling stations were opened. A total of 32,632 voters are eligible to cast their ballot papers.
A total of 276 out of 312 early voters in the constituency cast their ballot papers on June 14, while another five voters did not vote as they are overseas.
Meanwhile, Perak police chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Hanafi said since the nomination day on June 5, 161 ceramah have been organised by contesting political party.
He said no untoward incident or commotion happened during that period.
"I found that Malaysians have matured in politics.
"In my career as a police officer for 35 years, this is the best election that I have ever seen," he told reporters after visiting the school.
Abdul Rahim said so far police have also received 29 police reports in relation to election misconduct for the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary by-election.
He said to date, seven investigation papers have been opened including the recent one which happened on Friday evening where an incident happened between two party supporters at Taman Bunga Raya.
The case has been classified under Section 324 of the Penal Code.
The Kuala Kangsar by-election will see a four-cornered contest involving Barisan Nasional, PAS, Parti Amanah Negara and an independent candidate.
Mastura of BN faces Perak PAS Women's chief Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad, Kuala Kangsar Amanah vice-chief Prof Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary.