THE voter turnout for the Tg Piai parliamentary by-election is 43% as of noon, four hours after the polling centres opened.

Two by-election candidates, Karmaine Sardini of Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Wee Jeck Seng of Barisan Nasional, were among the early voters at the polling centres at SK Telok Kerang and SJKC Yu Ming 1, respectively.

The four other candidates Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz of Barisan Jemaah Islamiah (Berjasa), Wendy Subramaniam (Gerakan) and two Independent candidates, Dr Ang Chuan Lock and Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar are not registered voters in Tg Piai.

Election Commission (EC) chairman Azhar Azizan Harun was seen observing the voting process at SMK Dato’ Mohd Yunos Sulaiman, SJKC Cheow Min, SMK Sri Kukup and SJKC Pei Chiao.

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was also on the ground today, being spotted at SK Seri Bunian, SMK Sri Kukup, SJKC Bin Chong and SJKC Yu Ming 1.

At the polling centre at SK Serkat, Agriculture and Agro-based industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub was among the people queuing up to vote.

Twenty-seven polling centres are open from 8am to 5.30pm today for the 52,471 registered voters in Tanjung Piai to pick their elected representative.

The weather has been fine so far, although the Meteorology Department has predicted a cloudy day with   thunderstorms in the afternoon. – Bernama, November 16, 2019.