KUALA BESUT, July 24 – Election Commission (EC) Deputy Chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the Kuala Besut State Assembly constituency by- election was the most peaceful he had seen ever during his tenure with the EC.
He said the by-election was under control and the supporters of both parties contesting also did not act or behave in a manner which could disrupt the smoothness of the polling process.
“In fact, there was no shouting outside the gate (of the voting centre) which can disturb the voters who turn up.
“All respected the month of Ramadan. I am delighted at the attitude of the voters here which can be emulated for the general election,” he said after visiting the voting centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Alor Peroi here Wednesday.
Wan Ahmad, who spent time to talk with the EC personnel on duty, also said, to date, no complaint about the voting process had been received.
Wan Ahmad was also optimistic the target of 75 percent of the 16,534 voters turning out to vote could be achieved. This was based on the early estimate that 15 percent of voters had turned out to vote in the first hour.
“If we can obtain an additional 15 percent for every hour until the voting centres are closed, we can achieve 80 percent (more than the target).
Nevertheless, he said achieving the target of 75 percent could still be regarded as a success as polling was held on a working day.
Later, he visited the second polling centre at SK Kampung Nangka here, before continuing his visit to SK Kampung Baharu and SK Bukit Puteri.
Meanwhile, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, who also took time to survey the polling process of the by-election today, was satisfied with the smoothness of the process.
He was thankful with the peaceful and orderly situation and urged the supporters on both sides against making provocations which could mar peace and security.
“Do come out to perform your duty to vote peacefully,” he told reporters outside the voting centre at SK Kampung Baharu, here today. He was accompanied by his wife Toh Puan Seri Norliza Mahmud.
Ahmad Said, who is also Terengganu Umno Liaison Committee chairman, shook hands with supporters of both parties and talked with Barisan Nasional’s (BN) vote canvassers to boost their morale before departing.
The Kuala Besut by-election saw a straight fight between BN’s candidate Tengku Zaihan Che Ku Abd Rahman and PAS candidate Endot@Azlan Yusof. It was held following the death of incumbent Dr A Rahman Mokhtar of BN on June 26 from lung cancer.
– BERNAMA
