A FEW voters who came to cast their ballots in the Padang Serai parliamentary election were not aware that two candidates had withdrawn from the contest to give way to Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Dr Mohamad Sofee Razak.

Student Azieza Nour Afifah Azman Zahidi, 20, who is a first-time voter, said she was excited to fulfil her civic duty but was unaware there were candidates who had decided not to contest.

Azieza, who is pursuing her studies at a public higher learning institute in Perak, said she returned to Kampung Tunku, Putra in Kulim last Friday and was not informed about the matter.

“I don’t get to watch the news because there is no television back at my hostel. I am home now because it happens to be our mid-semester break,” she said when met after casting her ballot at  SMK Sultan Badlishah today.

Another voter, housewife Fauziah Desa, 58, said she might have missed out on the information and announcements regarding the candidates’ withdrawal.

“I didn’t know about this at all. I am casting my ballot here although I am living in Kulim-Bandar Baharu, because I used to rent here,” she said.

Meanwhile, Muhd Luqman Hakim Mohd Aliakabar, 21, said it was through social media platforms that he learned about the two  candidates pulling out from the contest.

Luqman, from Kampung Syed Sheikh, said that although this is his first time voting, he keeps himself abreast of the current political situation.

“I knew the two candidates have withdrawn, so there is no need to vote for them though their names are on the ballot paper. Besides, I have already decided who to vote for,” he said.

Earlier, Barisan Nasional candidate C. Sivarraajh and Warisan’s Mohd Bakhri Hashim pulled out from the contest for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat to make way for Sofee.

However, the names of the two candidates still remained on the ballot papers based on article 9 of the Elections (Election Process) Regulations 1981, which states that no candidate can withdraw from the contest after the end of the nomination process. – Bernama, December 7, 2022.