Kajang by-election: Lower voter turnout

The Kajang by-election on Sunday has seen a decline in voter turnout by 16 percent compared to the 13th General Election (GE-13).

The voting process which ended at 5pm on Sunday saw a turnout of 28,314 voters or 72 percent of the total 39,728 registered voters.

The last general election in May 2013 however saw a turnout of 87.9 percent.

Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the turnout was lower than its target of 80 percent.

“The Election Commission will study the drop in voter turnout. It is the lowest compared to the by elections in Kedah (Sungai Limau) and Terengganu (Kuala Besut),’ he said at a press conference at the Kajang Municipal Council Stadium on Sunday.

He added that the results will be known at 9pm the earliest.

Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Datin Chew Mei Fun and Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) president Datin Seri Azizah Ismail are both vying for the seat, which fell vacant following the incumbent PKRs Lee Chin Cheh’s resignation on January 27.

Lee won by 19,571 votes with a majority of 6,824 during the 13th General Election held in 2013.

BN candidate Lee Ban Seng received 12,747 votes while Berjasa’s Mohamad Ismail received 1,014 votes.

Three other independent candidates who also contested for the seat received less than 250 votes each.