TAPAH: Barisan Nasional (BN) has proven that the state seat of Ayer Kuning, Perak remained its stronghold when its candidate Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir, 54, won the by-election on Saturday garnering 11,065 votes with the majority of 5,006.
Other contestant Abd. Muhaimin Malek, 44, from Perikatan Nasional (PN) obtained 6,059 votes, while Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) K.S Bawani 40, who stood for the second time in the same place collected 1,106 votes.
Former teacher and senior lecturer with PhD in Islamic Education from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Mohamad Yusri competed for the first time and succeeded to be the representative of the unity government.
The official results were announced by the returning officer, Ahmad Redhauddin Ahmad Shokori at Dewan Merdeka Tapah this evening.
He said 289 ballot papers were rejected, three ballot papers were not returned and the voter turnout for the by-election stood at 58.07 per cent.
Meanwhile, 19 polling centres with 63 polling streams have been opened simultaneously at 8am today (Saturday).
To elect a new representative for the constituency, 31,281 voters had carried out their responsibilities in the by-election process today.
On April 22, 93.4 per cent of 500 police personnel and their spouses had fulfilled their responsibilities as early voters and 116 postal votes were issued by the Election Commission.
The by-election was held following the death of the assemblyman, the late Ishsam Shahruddin, 59, who suffered heart attack while participating in a football tournament in Penang on Feb. 22.
However in the 15th General Election (GE15) Ishsam representing BN won the seat with a majority of 2,213 votes, garnering 9,088 votes in a five cornered contest ahead of the PH candidate (6,875 votes), PN (6,812 votes) Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (105 votes) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (586 votes).
