POLLING in the Chini by-election ended at 5.30pm today.

The Election Commission (EC) has confirmed 72% of the 20,816 registered voters cast their ballots at 13 polling centres by 4pm.

The result will be announced by returning officer Zaliza Zulkipli in the evening at the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN), Pekan.

The early voting process on June 30 involved 17 of 18 police personnel while 156 more have voted by post.

The 13 polling centres were at SK Mambang, SMK Paloh Hinai, SK Kinchir, Dewan Mempelas Kampung Baru PPSK Salong, SK LKTP Chini Timur 1, SMK Chini Timur, Balai Raya Kampung Dusun, SK LKTP Chini Timur 2, SK LKTP Chini 3 and 5, SK LKTP Chini 1 and 4, Kelas Al-Quran and Fardu Ain Felda Chini 3, Sekolah Agama Rakyat Nur Ilham Felda Chini 1 and SMK Chini 2.

The Chini by-election is the 11th by-election after the 14th general election and the first during the Perikatan Nasional administration.

Many new rules had to be followed, among them practising social distancing, face masks need to be worn, hands should be washed or sanitised frequently as well as temperature checks.

The Chini by-election is a three-horse race between Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Mohd Sharim Md Zain, 41, who is a Felda Chini second-generation settler, and two independent candidates: businessman Tengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin, 64, and blogger Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli, 49.

The by-election was held following the death of incumbent Abu Bakar Harun, 60, at Hospital Kuala Lumpur due to a heart attack on May 7. Abu Bakar had been Chini assemblyman since the 11th general election in 2004.

It is the first by-election to be held since enforcement of the movement control order (MCO) on March 18, with several SOPs introduced, including special streams for voters aged 60 and above.

In the 14th general election, Abu Bakar retained the Chini seat with a majority of 4,622 votes, after securing 10,027 votes against PAS candidate Mohd Fadhil Noor Abdul Karim, who obtained 5,405 votes and PKR’s Mohamad Razali Ithnain, with 1,065 votes. – Bernama, July 4, 2020.