Voters turn up early in Kuala Kangsar by-election

KUALA KANGSAR: Wan Nur Nadia Sarah Wan Mohd Khir Johari, 30, wants her candidate to win the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary by-election. So, she came early to vote.
"Every vote is important; so I came here very early to ensure my support and a big victory for my candidate," she said when met at the polling centre in Sekolah Kebangsaan Raja Perempuan Muzwin here.
Wan Nur Nadia Sarah was among the early birds of the by-election which took off to a smooth start as eligible voters began casting their votes at the 23 polling centres which opened at 8am today. Polling will close at 5pm.
The fine weather seemed to have encouraged many people to come out early too and, according to the Election Commission, about 24% of the voters had cast their ballots by 10am.
A check by Bernama at several polling centres found voters exercising their right in the by-election, which is a four-cornered fight among Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid of Barisan Nasional, Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad of PAS, Prof Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli of Amanah and Independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary.
Wan Nur Nadia Sarah's twin sisters, Wan Nur Syaza Diyanah and Wan Nur Syaza Dhaniyah, 26, said they were excited as the by-election would determine the future of the younger generation in Kuala Kangsar.
"This is the first time they are voting. From the campaign, we find that our candidate can carry out the duties and we want to ensure a big victory," Wan Nur Syaza Diyanah said.
One voter who drew a lot of attention when she turned up at the same polling centre was Zainah Hassan, 84.
The BN candidate, Mastura, also turned up to vote, while her opponents did not as they were not registered voters in Kuala Kangsar.
"I hope my candidate wins and continues to work as before. There have been many elections, but my choice has always been the same. Let people say what they want, I will not believe," said Zainah, who had to be physically aided to come to the centre.
The Kuala Kangsar by-election is being held following the death of the MP and Mastura's husband Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad in a helicopter crash in Sarawak on May 5. — Bernama