Counting underway in Malaysia state polls, unofficial results trickling in with no surprises yet

SINGAPORE: Counting is in progress in Malaysia’s six state elections after polling closed at 6pm on Saturday (Aug 12), with unofficial results streaming in and reporting no surprises yet.

Unofficial results on Free Malaysia Today show the ruling Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) coalition taking a lead in Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan states that it’s defending from the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) alliance, which in turn is leading in home turf Kedah.

There are no results reported yet for PN-controlled states, Terengganu and Kelantan, as of 9pm.

In Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia’s transport minister Anthony Loke, secretary-general of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) that is part of the ruling coalition, has reportedly won the Chennah seat in a straight fight against PN’s Mr Rosmadi Arif.

According to local media, PN has won four of the 36 seats in Kedah where it was the incumbent. 

Meanwhile, early results showed that PH has won three seats in Selangor’s 56-seat state assembly, namely the Pandamaran, Bandar Baru Klang and Banting seats. 

The coalition has also reportedly won nine seats in Penang’s 40-seat state assembly including the Air Putih seat by DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng. 

BN’s Mohamad Hasan – who is also Malaysia’s defence minister – has won the Rantau seat (Mohamad Hasan) in Negeri Sembilan held by PH-BN. The coalition has also reportedly won three other seats in the state.

In Kuala Lumpur, the media is camped at the World Trade Centre where PH-BN leaders are expected to gather and follow the live counting of the six state elections. Also expected at the event are Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and DPM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

PN leaders meanwhile are expected to gather at the Concorde Hotel in Shah Alam, Selangor for their viewing party of the live results.