MIDWAY into the counting, unofficial results has Pakatan Harapan (PH) ahead of PAS by 2,355 votes in the Sri Setia state seat by-election in Selangor.

The midway point is expected to be around 12,000 votes as turnout for the 53,492-voter seat is expected to be around 44%.

At 6.40pm, PH’s Halimey Abu Bakar had polled 6,452 (61%) against PAS’ Dr Halimah Ali who had 4,097 votes (39%). The total number of votes tallied so far were 10,549 votes.

The results also showed Pakatan winning three out of 21 polling stations although PAS is leading in three polling stations.

The results were tabulated by Institute Darul Ehsan, where the counting agents would update the centre with the results when the counting is completed.

The Election Commission announced that voter turnout stood at 44% as polling centres closed at 5.30pm, even lower than the Sg Kandis by-election’s 47% turnout last month.

Barisan Nasional decided not to stand in the by-election to ensure a straight fight between PAS and PH.

BN and PAS are using the by-election to test out their cooperation to see whether their members are open to voting for each other.

In the last elections in May, PKR’s Shaharuddin Badaruddin won 29,250 votes to defeat Barisan Nasional’s Yusoff M Haniff (9,878) and PAS’ Mohd Ghazali Daud (4,563) by 19,372 votes. Independent S. Vigneswaran LM Sanasee only garnered 217 votes.

The seat fell vacant after Shaharuddin died of cancer on August 2 to trigger the by-election. – September 8, 2018.

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