Voters in Sungai Bakap, Penang, are casting their ballots in a by-election today to elect a new state assemblyman.

Why was the by-election called?

The incumbent, Nor Zamri Latiff of PAS, died on May 24 from illness.

Who are the contenders?

The by-election is a straight fight between the ruling Pakatan Harapan’s Joohari Ariffin (PKR) and the opposition Perikatan Nasional’s Abidin Ismail (PAS).

How many people are voting?

The seat has 39,279 registered voters and 57 police personnel. No early voting was held for this by-election as all 57 were issued postal votes.

What is turnout?

As of 4pm, the Election Commission said 57.8 per cent of voters have cast their ballots.

Where is voting taking place?

Nine voting centres will open from 8am to 6pm today. They are in:

• Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tasek
• Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Boon Beng
• SMK Bandar Tasek Mutiara
• Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Seri Tasek
• SK Sungai Duri
• SMK Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah
• SK Sungai Bakap
• SK Jawi
• SK Sungai Kechil

When will the result be known?

Based on previous by-elections, early counting should provide a reliable indication of the outcome by 8.30pm, with the EC expected to declare a winner before 10pm.

So, who is going to win?

Institut Darul Ehsan (IDE) released a study yesterday saying the race was too close to call, and that PH could deny PN if the former is able to get out the Chinese vote, which appeared to be uninterested about the by-election.

What happened previously?

Sungai Bakap had stayed a PKR seat since if first won here in 2008, but PAS was able to wrest it away during the state election last year that was held separately from the 2022 general election.

Then, the late Noor Zamri won with a 1,563-vote majority over PKR’s Nurhidayah Che Rus.

Will the result alter who is in charge of Penang?

PH and its national unity government partner, Barisan Nasional, have a combined 29 seats out of the 40 in the Penang assembly, giving them supermajority control.

Consequently, the outcome of the Sungai Bakap by-election will not have an immediate effect regardless of which side wins.