THE Election Commission (EC) is expected to call for by-elections in Padang Serai following the death of Pakatan Harapan candidate and incumbent M. Karupaiya earlier today.

Clause 11(6) of the Elections (Conduct of Elections) Regulations 1981 states that the EC can call for by-elections on a separate date in the event a nominated candidate dies.

Under the regulations, following the death of a candidate before polling, the returning officer “shall … inform the secretary to the Election Commission … on the reverse of the writ” for the original polling. 

“The Election Commission shall countermand the notice for the polls, and shall appoint by notice published in the gazette a fresh date for the elections, and in such case, all proceedings with reference to the elections shall be commenced afresh, provided that no fresh nomination shall be necessary in the case of a qualified candidate who stood nominated at the time of the countermand of the polls,” states the clause. 

The EC is expected to issue a statement on the status of polling in Padang Serai later today.

Earlier today, PKR’s Karupaiya died after being in hospital for three days. 

Kulim district police chief Redzuan Salleh said the Padang Serai PKR chief died at 2.27pm at Kulim Hospital. 

This is the first time a candidate has died during a general election (GE). 

The incumbent was reportedly hospitalised three days ago, and was in a six-cornered fight for the Padang Serai seat.

He would have faced C. Sivarraajh (Barisan Nasional), Azman Nasrudin (Perikatan Nasional), Hamzah Abd Rahman (Pejuang), Mohd Bakhri Hashim (Warisan) and Sreanandha Rao (Independent).

The 69-year-old won the Padang Serai seat in the 2018 GE after defeating MCA’s Leong Yong Kong and PAS’ Sobri Osman. – November 16, 2022.