[LIVE] Approximately 8.78 million have voted as of noon, says Election Commission

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — [1.25pm] Approximately 42 per cent of eligible voters in the 15th general election have fulfilled their responsibilities as of noon today, according to the latest data shared by the Election Commission (EC) via Twitter.

This is the equivalent of 8.78 million voters.

The voting process is going smoothly nationwide with the public observing the standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the EC, including the presence of Health Ministry staff to assist voters who are Covid-19 positive.

[1pm] Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali have cast their votes for the 15th general election at SK Titi Gajah in Alor Setar.

According to a report by The Star, the couple arrived at the polling centre at about 10.50am and spent about 10 minutes at the centre to cast their votes for the Kuala Kedah parliamentary constituency.

The Pejuang chairman and Langkawi parliamentary candidate, who is also the GE15 oldest candidates, was quoted as calling on voters to come out early to fulfil their responsibilities as a citizen.

[12.45pm] Polling for the Tioman state constituency in Pahang has officially been postponed, the Election Commission announced.

It said that November 24 is now the new date for the nomination of candidates, with December 3 set for early voting and December 7 for polling.

The postponement is due to death of Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Md Yunus Ramli at 3.30am this morning.

His death was confirmed by Central PAS Committee member Wan Rohimi Wan Daud to Bernama.

In GE15, the Tioman state seat was to have witnessed a five-cornered clash between Yunus, Sulaiman Bakar (Independent), Osman A. Bakar (Pejuang), Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly (Pakatan Harapan), and Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Hussain (Barisan Nasional).

[12.30pm] The Election Commission recorded a turnout of 31 per cent at polling stations nationwide as at 11am today.

That amounts to 6,480,663.46 votes cast so far.

In comparison, the voter turnout at 11am for GE14 in 2018 was 36 per cent, or 5.38 million people.

[11.40am] DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng cast his vote at SMJK Chung Hwa in Penang.

The incumbent Bagan MP was joined by his sister Lim Hui Ying who is making parliamentary election debut as the Pakatan Harapan Tanjung candidate.

[11.25am] The voter turnout across Malaysia was at 20 per cent as of 10am, the Election Commission announced in its latest tweet.

This represents a jump of 11 per cent in an hour, from the 9 per cent announced for 9am.

[11.05am] According to the latest data released by the Election Commission, 9 per cent of eligible voters across Malaysia have cast their vote as of 9am.

The voter turnout in the 2018 election was 82 per cent, and 84 per cent in 2013.

Today, approximately 21.2 million voters have a chance to choose representatives for the 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat, or the lower house of Parliament.

This will be the first general election since the voting age was lowered to 18 and the introduction of automatic registration.

At the last election in 2018, there were 14.9 million voters.

Three states are also holding elections and they are Pahang, Perlis and Perak.

[11am] Incumbent Gombak MP Datuk Seri Azmin Ali has cast his vote at the SK Klang Gate polling station.

He told reporters as he was leaving that he was confident of retaining his seat based on his track record in the constituency.

“I am confident based on my hard work to serve Gombak. God willing, the people will continue to be with me to develop Gombak,” the Perikatan Nasional candidate and Bersatu deputy president said.

Azmin faces Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin, Gerakan Tanah Air’s (GTA) Aziz Jamaludin Mohd Tahir and independent candidate Ir Zulkifli Ahmad.

[10.33am] Caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob cast his ballot at the SMK Bandar Kerayong polling station in Bera, Pahang.

He is seeking re-election in the rural Malay-majority parliamentary seat of Bera that he has held since 2004 and won by a margin of about 2,300 votes in 2018.

[10am] Several DAP leaders and hopefuls have cast their ballot for the national polls.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang were both spotted voting at separate polling centres in George Town in Penang.

Meanwhile, Pakatan Harapan’s Bentong hopeful Young Syefura Othman from DAP cast her vote at the SMK Bentong polling centre at 8.15am.

She faces stiff competition in the form of incumbent Wong Tack, who is seeking re-election as an independent, and former four-term MP and former MCA president Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai who hopes to reclaim the parliamentary seat for Barisan Nasional.

Her two other contenders are Perikatan Nasional’s Datuk Roslan Hassan and another independent candidate Khalil Abdul Hamid.

[9.20am] Pakatan Harapan president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has cast his vote at SK Sri Penanti in Permatang Pauh.

He is challenging incumbent Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu for the Tambun parliamentary seat.

The Bersatu deputy president is also defending his seat against Tambun Umno division chief Datuk Aminnudin Md Hanifiah (Barisan Nasional) and Gerakan Tanah Air’s Abdul Rahim Tahir from Pejuang.

Ahmad Faizal cast his vote at the polling station in Sekolah Agama Rendah Al-Ithidayah in Tambun this morning.

[9.15am] Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi were among the early voters today.

Tengku Zafrul, who is the Barisan Nasional hopeful for Kuala Selangor, cast his ballot at the SK Puncak Alam 2 polling centre shortly after 8am.

He was accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Raja Johanna Adrina Raja Arshad.

Tengku Zafrul is in a four-cornered contest for the parliamentary seat with Dzulkefly Ahmad of Pakatan Harapan, Noor Mohd Shahar of Perikatan Nasional and Shaid Rosli of Pejuang.

Similarly, Barisan Nasional president Zahid cast his vote at Madrasah Manbail Ulum Sungai Nipah Darat in Bagan Datuk, Perak.

He was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis and their daughter Nurul Hidayah.

The Bagan Datuk parliamentary constituency has been held by Zahid, the incumbent, since 1995.

His challengers are Pakatan Harapan’s Datuk Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, Perikatan Nasional’s Muhammad Faiz Na’man and independent candidate Tawfik Ismail.

Tawfik is the son of the late Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, the country’s second deputy prime minister.

[8.29am] The returning officer for the Tioman state seat in Pahang postponed the election before polling was officially due to open at 8am.

This is due to death of Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Md Yunus Ramli at 3.30am this morning.

His death was confirmed by Central PAS Committee member Wan Rohimi Wan Daud to Bernama.

In GE15, the Tioman state seat was to have witnessed a five-cornered clash between Yunus, Sulaiman Bakar (Independent), Osman A. Bakar (Pejuang), Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly (Pakatan Harapan), and Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Hussain (Barisan Nasional).

[8am] Polling stations officially open across peninsular Malaysia.

Voters may cast their ballot between 8am and 6pm in peninsular Malaysia and from 7.30am to 5.30pm in Sabah and Sarawak.

If you are in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Sabah, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a weather advisory for lightning, heavy rain, and strong winds until 9am.

[7.30am] Good morning, Malaysia.

The 15th general election is officially upon us.

Polling has begun in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

If you are casting your ballot today, here are the EC’s voting guidelines for your reference.