Pulai, Simpang Jeram voting on Sept 9

By-elections in Johor expected to cost RM6mil, says EC chairman

PUTRAJAYA: Voters in the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state constituencies will go to the ballot box to elect their new representatives on Sept 9.

Announcing this, Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh said the meeting held to discuss the by-elections had also fixed nomination day on Aug 26, while early voting is on Sept 5.

The polls are expected to cost RM6mil. Abdul Ghani said that of the amount, RM4.5mil would go to hold the by-election for the Pulai parliamentary seat while RM1.5mil is to organise polls for the Simpang Jeram state seat.

“The campaign period of 14 days will begin once candidates contesting for the two by-elections are announced on Aug 26,” he told a press conference yesterday.

He said there are 166,653 voters in the Pulai parliamentary constituency, of which 165,700 are regular voters, 927 police personnel and 26 outstation voters.

For the Simpang Jeram state seat, there are 40,379 voters – 40,373 regular and six outstation voters.

Abdul Ghani said 2,692 personnel will be on duty for the by-election in Pulai while 678 officers have been assigned to manage polls in Simpang Renggam.

“The EC invites non-governmental organisations and government agencies to observe the by-elections from the nomination till election results are announced,” he added.

The two seats fell vacant following the death of Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub on July 23 after a surgery for brain haemorrhage.He was 61.

Salahuddin, who was the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, was both MP for Pulai and the state assemblyman for Simpang Jeram.

In the 15th General Election, Salahuddin won the Pulai parliamentary seat for the third time, securing 64,900 votes. During the Johor state election held last year, he returned as the assemblyman for Simpang Jeram with a 2,399-vote majority.

Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional will give way to Amanah to contest in the by-elections for the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state seats.

Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the decision was made in the spirit of political collaboration in the unity government.

“The Simpang Jeram state seat also belongs to Amanah. So in the spirit of the Madani government, we support both seats to be contested by Amanah,” he told the media after launching the TVET JELITA programme at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur yesterday.