The Malaysian Insight

INDEPENDENT candidate Isa Samad said the voter turnout in today’s Port Dickson by-election will make no difference on how the votes will go.

The former Negri Sembilan menteri besar said he is confident the turnout will be only around 50% today.

“The most will be 50%. To me, it will make no difference if it is a good turnout or not,” Isa told The Malaysian Insight when met at the SK Telok Kemang polling centre.

The former Umno man added most outstation voters will not come back to vote in this by-election, as it was only five months after the 14th general elections.

“Most people will not come back to vote,” Isa said.

However, the former Felda chairman did not dismiss his chances of wresting the seat from the favourite, Pakatan Harapan’s Anwar Ibrahim.

“I think it should be all right. I am confident,” Isa said.

Isa, 68, represented Bagan Pinang from 2009 to 2013. Before that, he was the Linggi MP from 1978 to 2004.

He was menteri besar of the state from 1982 to 2004.

Independent pollster Ilham Centre rated Isa as giving Anwar the toughest fight from among all six challengers.

“He evidently still commands influence in the state seats of Bagan Pinang and Linggi,” said executive director Mohd Azlan Zainal of Isa’s homeground advantage

As of 2pm, the Election Commission reports the voter turnout to be at 44%. – October 13, 2018.