Voting Gains Pace, 33 Pct Ijokians Vote As At Noon

KUALA SELANGOR, April 28 (Bernama) -- Voting in the keenly fought Ijok by-election has picked up momentum, with about 33 per cent Ijokians having exercised their electoral rights as of noon.
Election Commission secretary Datuk Kamaruzaman Mohd Noor said voting at all the nine polling centres was proceeding smoothly despite the cheers and jeers by supporters of the opposing parties.
"I expect the voter turnout to gain pace in the evening despite the overcast skies and rain in several areas," he told Bernama.
The Meteorology Department had forecast heavy rain and thunderstorm in the evening.
The nine polling stations will remain open until 5pm after which votes will be counted at the respective voting centres before being tallied at the Batang Berjuntai community hall.
Results are expected to be announced at about 8pm if there was no recount.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) are locking horns in this semi-urban seat which fell vacant upon the death of BN assemblyman Datuk K. Sivalingam, 59, who died of a heart attack in Chennai, India, on April 4.
The choice for Ijokians is between two political unknowns -- BN's K. Parthiban, 38, a former teacher, and PKR's Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, 61, a former corporate figure. Both are first-time candidates.
Sivalingam retained the Malay-majority seat with a 1,649-vote majority in the last general election.