Pakatan all out for big win in PD

Negri MB: We’re gunning for big turnout to achieve our aim

GEMAS: Pakatan Harapan is gunning for a high voter turnout and a “handsome” win in the Port Dickson by-election, its campaign director Aminuddin Harun.

“We need to get people to the voting centres to ensure a higher turnout than the recent by-elections,” said Aminuddin, who is also Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar.

In the Balakong and Seri Setia by-elections on Sept 8, voter turnout was low at 43% and 44% respectively. Last month’s Sungai Kandis by-election saw a turnout of 49.8%.

“We are worried about a low turnout as many voters stay outside PD. We hope they will come back during the polling weekend to vote. We need the votes for a handsome win,” Aminuddin said, adding that Pakatan was hoping for at least a 70% turnout.

Aminuddin was commenting on the announcement by the Election Commission (EC) yesterday that political parties will have 14 days to campaign in the Oct 13 Port Dickson by-election.

“The minimum number of days for campaigning is 11 days.

“After listening to different opinions, we believe that 14 days is sufficient for this by-election,” EC deputy chairman Tan Sri Othman Mahmood had said in a press conference.

He added that the Port Dickson by-election was given a budget of RM3.6mil.

Nomination day is on Sept 29 while early voting will be held on Oct 9. Polling time will also be extended by 30 minutes from 8am to 5.30pm.

In the Seri Setia and Balakong by-elections, the campaigning period was stretched to 21 days – the longest campaign period in the country’s history.

On Sept 12, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof notified the EC about the vacancy of the parliamentary seat following the resignation of its MP Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah.

He resigned from his post to make way for PKR’s president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to return to Parliament.