ELECTION campaigns in six states kick off today with the nomination of candidates at 173 centres.

The nomination centres will open at 9am.

Candidates in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu have until 10am to file their nomination papers.

A total of 245 state seats as well as the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary constituency will be contested on August 12. The Kuala Terengganu federal seat was declared vacant following the Election Court’s nullification of PAS’ Ahmad Amzad Hashim’s November win.

A 14-day campaign period will begin after the candidates are announced today. It will run until 11.59pm on August 11.

Early voting is on August 8.

It is the first time the six states are holding their state elections separately from the general election. 

The Kelantan assembly, which has 45 seats, was dissolved on June 22, followed by the 56-seat Selangor assembly on June 23.

The 40-seat Penang assembly, 36-seat Kedah assembly, and 32-seat Terengganu assembly were dissolved simultaneously on June 28, while the 36-seat Negri Sembilan assembly completed its full five-year term before being dissolved on July 1.

A total of 9,773,571 Malaysias are eligible to vote in the six state elections. They are in Selangor (3,747,057);  Kedah (1,585,085); Kelantan (1,411,912); Penang (1,234,198); Terengganu (930,894); and Negri Sembilan (864,425).

Meanwhile, fair weather is expected in Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu this morning, according to the Meteorological Department website.

Rain is forecasted in one or two areas in the interior of Selangor, while thunderstorms are expected in Negri Sembilan. – Bernama, July 29, 2023.