PETALING JAYA: Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki claimed that Barisan Nasional has an early lead in the Nenggiri state by-election based on initial results from six polling districts which closed earlier.
In a Facebook post Saturday (Aug 17), he initially claimed that Barisan had won in five polling districts which closed at 2pm.
He later updated the post at 5.10pm to include another win for Barisan in a sixth polling district.
So far, he said, Barisan has garnered a total of 1,852 votes to PAS’ 282 votes in those six polling districts.
The six districts are Tohoi, Sungai Puian, Sungai Jenera, Kuala Sungai, Pos Simpor and Sungai Wias.
“Thank you to the Orang Asli voters who remained loyal to BN even though they faced huge challenges,” Asyraf said in his post.
Polling officially ended at 6pm, with the turnout at nearly 72% as of 4pm.
BN’s candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani is going up against Perikatan Nasional candidate, Mohd Rizwadi Ismail, on a PAS ticket.
The Nenggiri by-election was called after the seat was declared vacant by Kelantan state assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah on June 19 after Mohd Azizi Abu Naim ceased to be a member of Bersatu on June 13.
In the state elections last year, Mohd Azizi, who contested using the PAS logo, defeated Barisan candidate Ab Aziz Yusoff with a majority of 810 votes.
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