Ayer Kuning: A total of 90.4 per cent of early voter turnout was recorded in the Ayer Kuning state by-election as of noon today, according to the Election Commission (EC). The early voting took place across two polling centres, namely the General Operations Force (GOF) 3rd Battalion Camp’s Dewan Rekreasi Pegawai Kanan in Bidor and Dewan Anggerik at the Tapah district police headquarters (IPD) Housing Complex, both of which opened at 8 am.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the polling centre at Dewan Anggerik, which catered to 24 policemen and their spouses, concluded its early voting process by noon. This closure left the polling centre at the Senior Officers’ Recreation Hall in Bidor as the only site remaining open until 5 pm. The early voting process engaged a total of 500 policemen and their spouses.

The Ayer Kuning by-election was necessitated by the passing of incumbent Ishsam Shahruddin on February 22. This election sees a three-cornered contest featuring Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir, Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Abd Muhaimin Malek, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) candidate Bawani KS.

Meanwhile, all three candidates took the opportunity to observe the early voting proceedings. EC Chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun was also present, monitoring the process at the PGA Bidor at 9 am.