BARISAN Nasional (BN) is set to retain Slim, according to the unofficial vote count.

Its candidate Mohd Zaidi Aziz, 43, is currently leading by a majority of more than 9,000 votes.

The unofficial Election Commission count as at 7.23pm showed Zaidi leading with a majority of 9,491 votes after garnering 11,352 votes.

Independent Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi, 38, who is backed by Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s newly formed Pejuang has secured 1,861 votes.

The other candidate in the three-cornered fight, independent candidate S. Santharasekaran, 44, polled 242 votes.

The seat fell vacant following the death of its four-term assemblyman Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib, who died from a heart attack on July 15.

He was reported to have collapsed while playing golf at the Awana Genting Highlands Golf and Country Resort and was rushed to Bentong Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. – August 29, 2020.