Voters in Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan will be casting their ballots today for the 245 state seats at stake.

The Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election is also being held simultaneously. The polls today involve 9.67 million voters, 572 candidates for the state seats and straight fight for the Kuala Terengganu parliament seat.

The Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan National (BN) alliance collectively fielded the most number of candidates, 138 and 108 respectively. The others are Perikatan Nasional (168), PAS (78), Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) (19), Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM)(13) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) (4). Also in the fray are 41 independents and other lesser known parties.

A total of 72,554 early voters had cast their ballot on Tuesday (Aug 8) and the 14-day intense campaign wrapped up on Friday (Aug 11).

A total of 17,048 voting streams will be made available at 3,190 polling centres in all 245 state constituencies, while for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election there will be 217 voting streams and 41 polling centres.

The following is the timeline of activities and happenings in the six states during polling as reported by BERNAMA’s reporters and photographers on the ground.

As of 1pm

- Selangor UMNO chairman Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin, who is also the BN candidate for the Gombak Setia state seat, casts his ballot at the SK Taman Seri Gombak 2 polling centre in Gombak, Selangor.

- PH candidate for the Chennah state seat in Negeri Sembilan, Anthony Loke, who is also the Minister of Transport, witnesses the polling process for the Mambau seat at the SJKC Sin Hua polling centre in Seremban.

- The weather in most of parts in the six states facing elections today good since morning, but in some areas reported to be overcast and cloudy.

- Former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin completes voting at Sekolah Menengah Agama Hj Mohd Yatim for the Kota seat in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan.

As of noon

-- Traffic flow around the SK Taman Sri Gombak 2 polling centre in Gombak, Selangor moving slowly as voters start arriving in droves around the premises.

- According to EC, voter turnout as of 11 am in Terengganu at 33 percent while in Kedah and Penang at 32 percent and 29 percent respectively.

- As at 11 am, Selangor recorded 28 percent voter turnout, Negeri Sembilan (27 percent) and Kelantan (26 percent).

- Voter turnout for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election as of 11 am was 30 percent.

As of 11 am

- Former Terengganu MB Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman representing PH-BN for the Seberang Takir state seat votes at SK Kompleks Seberang Takir, Kuala Nerus.

- According to EC, the voter turnout percentage as at 10 am in Terengganu was 22 percent, while it was 20 percent in Kedah and Terengganu respectively.

- In Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Kelantan the voter turnout as at 10 am was 19 percent, 18 percent and 17 percent respectively.

- As for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election, the voter turnout as at 10 am was 19 percent.

- Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor who is also PN’s candidate for Jeneri state seat arrived at SK Bandar Baru Beris Jaya with his wife Tok Puan Jusmalailani Jusoh to vote.

As of 10.30 am

- Young voters don't miss the opportunity to fulfill their voting responsibility at SK Taman Permata, Hulu Kelang, Selangor for the Hulu Kelang state seat.

- BN candidate for the Bertam state seat Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and family members vote at SJKC Pei Yu in Bertam, Kepala Batas, Penang.

- DAP chairman and incumbent for the Air Putih state seat in Penang Lim Guan Eng, his mother Puan Sri Neo Yok Tee and sister Lim Hui Ying, who is also Deputy Education Minister, cast their ballots at SMJK Chung Hwa Confucian, Jelutong, Penang for the Seri Delima seat.

- BN candidate for the Sungai Dua state seat in Penang Datuk Shaikh Hussein Mydin casts his ballot at the SK Desa Murni pollling centre in Butterworth for the seat.

- EC provides seats for elderly voters while queuing up to vote for the Sungai Dua seat in Penang at the SK Desa Murni polling centre in Butterworth.

As of 10 am

- PM Anwar and wife Dr Wan Azizah finish voting at SK Seri Penanti, Permatang Pauh for the Permatang Pasir state seat.

- EC also provided buggy services to ferry the elderly and the infirm to vote for the Balakong state seat at SMK Perimbun, Cheras.

- The rain fails to deter voters from arriving at SJKC Chung Hua, Rantau, Negeri Sembilan to vote.

- BN candidate for Pedu state seat Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid arrives at the polling centre in SK Naka, Kuala Nerang, Kedah.

- Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, PN’s candidate for Hulu Kelang state seat in Selangor, votes at SK Klang Gate.

- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali vote for Anak Bukit state seat at SK Titi Gajah, Alor Setar.

As of 9.30 am

- Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who is the PAS candidate for the Ru Rendang state seat in Terengganu, completes voting for the Jertih seat at SMK Seri Nering in Besut.

- Overcast sky over the polling centre of SMK Hj Mohd Redza for the Sikamat state seat in Negeri Sembilan.

- PH candidate for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election Azan Ismail finishes voting at SK Bukit Besar, Kuala Terengganu.

As of 9 am

- PAS candidate for Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim votes both for the parliament seat and Wakaf Mempelam state seat at SK Durian Burung, Terengganu.

- PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang completes voting at SK Rusila in Marang for the Ru Rendang state seat in Terengganu.

- Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, UMNO deputy president and the candidate for Rantau state seat, accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Raja Salbiah Tengku Nujumudin arrive at SJKC Chung Hua, Rantau, Negeri Sembilan to vote.

- Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari who is also PH’s candidate for Sungai Tua state constituency votes at SJKC Selayang Baru, Gombak, Selangor.

As of 8.30 am

- Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow completes voting at SJKC Hu Yew Seah, George Town. Komtar state seat candidate Teh Lai Heng (DAP) and veteran DAP leader Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang also voted at the same school.

- Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat candidate Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim, from PAS, queues to vote at SK Durian Burung, Kuala Terengganu.

- Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay visits SK Bandar Baru Bangi polling centre to check on the voting process. He was accompanied by Kajang District Police Chief ACP Mohd Zaid Hassan.

- PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang arrives at SK Rusila in Marang, Terengganu to vote for the Ru Rendang state seat.

As at 8.00 am:

– All 3,231 polling centres in the six states – Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan – now open for voting including for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.

Terengganu Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and candidate for Kijal state seat Datuk Seri Ahmad Said arrives at Sekolah Kebangsaan Telok Kalong, Kijal at 7.55am to to cast his ballot.

– Investment, trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz among the earliest to vote for the Jeram state seat at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Puncak Alam 2 di Selangor.

- Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow arrives at SJKC Hu Yew Seah, George Town, Penang to vote

- Terengganu BN chairman and the candidate for Kijal state seat Datuk Seri Ahmad Said and wife Toh Puan Norliza Mahmud were the first and second to vote at SK Telok Kalong, Kijal, Terengganu.

- Rapper Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman a.k.a Altimet representing PH completes voting at SMK Seri Keramat in Ampang for the Lembah Jaya state constituency.

As of 7.30 am :

– The day begins with polling stations in the six states working on the final preparations to open the doors at 8 am, and early voters leave home to cast their ballots at their respective polling stations.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency