BN wins Hulu Selangor by 1,725 votes

KUALA KUBU BARU: Barisan Nasional won the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat by a 1,725-vote majority on Sunday.

P. Kamalanathan garnered 24,997 votes to defeat PKR's Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who got 23,272 votes.

There were 731 spoilt votes, of the total of 48,935 votes cast. Voter turnout was 75.87%.

The result was announced at 9.17pm by returning officer Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan.

Prime Minister and Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who was at the tallying centre when the result was announced, said the victory showed the tide was changing for Barisan and that the people were returning to the coalition.

In his victory speech, Kamalanathan, 44, vowed to work hard to resolve the problems of the various races in Hulu Selangor.

An elderly resident registering to vote at one of the polling centres.

"I will keep to the promises made when I campaigned," the MIC information chief said.

He thanked Najib, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and leaders of other component and friendly parties of Barisan who campaigned for him.

In the 2008 general elections, PKR's Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad defeated MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel by 198 votes to win the seat.

A senior citizan arriving to vote at SJK(C) Kalumpang.

The seat fell vacant after Dr Zainal Abidin's death in March. Nomination was held on April 17.

The following is the live coverage of the by-election on Sunday:

8.55pm:
Official result
121 of 137 boxes counted: P. Kamalanathan (BN) - 22,693; Zaid Ibrahim (PKR) - 21,393

8.35pm:
DPM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Barisan candidate P. Kamalanathan arrive at the tallying centre at the Hulu Selangor multi-purpose complex.

7.51pm:
Official result
40 of 137 boxes counted: P. Kamalanathan (BN) - 5,946; Zaid Ibrahim (PKR) - 6,552

7.38pm:
Unofficial result
P. Kamalanathan of Barisan Nasional has won the Hulu Selangor by-election, defeating PKR's Datuk Zaid Ibrahim by more than 2,500 votes.

7.32pm:
Unofficial result
Five boxes left to be counted, BN ahead by more than 2,000 votes

7.24pm:
Official result
20 of 137 boxes counted: P. Kamalanathan (BN) - 3,016; Zaid Ibrahim (PKR) - 3,372

7.15pm:
Official result
16 of 137 boxes counted: BN - 2,468; PKR - 2,722

6.40pm:
Official postal vote result: Kamalanathan (BN) - 767; Zaid (PKR) - 120; Spoilt votes - 89

KUALA KUBU BARU: A total of 48,935 voters or 75.87% of the electorate cast their votes in the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election Sunday, Election Commission deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said.

He said the result could be announced at 10pm, provided all the ballot boxes from the 48 polling centres could be brought to the tallying centre here by 8.30pm and the tallying was completed in one hour.

He said the EC was generally satisfied with the polling process though it had originally anticipated an 80% turnout.

"Heavy rain fell in Batang Kali and several other places this evening, and some voters could not have gone to the polls.

"Nevertheless, we are happy with the 75.87% turnout," he said.

The number of voters was higher than the 47,622 or 75.24% turnout during the general election in 2008.

6.30pm: Ballot boxes are being brought to the tallying centre.

5.45pm: Voter turnout was 75.87% or 48,935 people. The result is expected about 9.30pm.

5.20pm: Police have set up barbed-wire barricades on the road leading to the tallying centre at the Hulu Selangor multi-purpose sports complex. On standby are 10 policemen.

5pm: Voting has closed and the total turnout is expected to be known in 30 minutes. Counting will begin immediately at the polling centres. The results will be tabulated at the Hulu Selangor multi-purpose sports complex.

4.30pm: Voter turnout at 4pm was 73.82% or 47,615 people.

3.30pm: Voter turnout at 3pm was 67.18% or 43,333 people.

2.40pm: Police said they have arrested six 'outsiders' for trying to disrupt the peace at a few polling centres.

2.32pm: Voter turnout at 2pm was 63.74%. Based on the voting trend, which picked up after the lunch break, voter turnout may be better than the 75.24% in the last general election, EC says.

1.55pm: Muhyiddin urged voters who have yet to vote to come out quickly ahead of possible showers soon. After visiting a number of polling centres, he also said that both the police and EC had done a good job as voting was proceeding smoothly.

1.40pm: Police deny claims that they detained buses carrying phantom voters. They say the voting process is going smoothly, except for minor fracas among supporters.

1.35pm: Voter turnout at 1pm is 56.92%

12.35pm: Midday voter turnout is 49.04% or 31,632 out of 63,701 voters.

12.05pm: Almost all roads in the towns in the constituency are now clogged, slowing voters making their way to the polling centres.

11.30am: EC says 38.21% of voters had cast their ballots by 11am. Voting is proceeding smoothly, barring minor incidents.

11.15am: The oldest voter registered at Ladang Kerling, Marzuki@Chuki Ahmad, 97, votes at SK Kerling. When asked which side he is voting for, he smiled and said "the best candidate".

11.00am: Zaid, who is also not a registered voter in the constituency, is making his meet-and-greet rounds and was in Batang Kali earlier this morning.

10.45am By 10am, 26.25% had cast their votes.

10.30am: Barisan deputy chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is on the ground, greeting voters and supporters and checking on Barisan machinery.

10.20am: Voting at all polling centres is proceeding smoothly.

9.50am: Election fever is on but supporters from both parties are heeding police advice. They drive by and tease each other playfully. Atmosphere is festive.

9.45am: Up to 9am, 12.23% of the voters had cast their ballots.

9.32am: MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek arrives in Kalumpang and Barisan supporters give him a rousing welcome.

9.05am: MCA treasurer-general Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho arrives to meet and greet voters in Kalumpang as Barisan supporters cheer.

8.50am: Kamalanathan prays at the Sithi Vinayagar temple in Serendah before going on his rounds, starting at Sekolah Menengah Sg Choh.

8.40am: Crowds have begun to build outside polling centres as voters heed calls to vote early ahead of possible rain later in the day.

8:25am: As more voters come out, traffic congestion is building along the Kuala Kubu Baru road.

8.17am: Barisan and Pakatan supporters are ferrying voters to the centres

8.10am: Police are present at all polling centres to ensure voter safety and to prevent incidents between Barisan and Pakatan supporters

8.00am: Polling centres open. Voters are trickling in

HULU SELANGOR: Voting has begun for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat by-election.

The result of the battle to win the hearts and minds of the voters scattered in a constituency as huge as Malacca and bordering Perak and Pahang is expected to be known after 8pm.

Voters are going to 48 centres located in 47 schools and a community hall to mark their choice of candidate - MIC information chief P. Kamalanathan, 44, of the Barisan Nasional or former Kota Baru MP and former minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, 59, of PKR.

Polling will end at 5pm.

Some 799 postal voters, comprising police and military personnel and election workers, cast their ballots on Thursday and Friday.

The seat fell vacant following the death of the MP, Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad of PKR, in March. Nomination was held on April 17.

Dr Zainal Abidin won the seat in the 2008 general election with a 198-vote majority after beating MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel who had held the seat for four terms.

The constituency has a total of 64,500 voters, 34,020 or 52.7% of whom are Malays, 16,964 or 26.3% Chinese, 12,453 or 19.3% Indians and about 1,000 Orang Asli.

The Election Commission (EC) is using the 2009 electoral rolls, updated as of March 26, for the by-election.

The police have deployed more than 1,000 personnel and several helicopters to ensure a smooth campaign and polling.

Facts that figure:

CANDIDATES: P. Kamalanathan (BN); Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (PKR).

POLLING CENTRES: 48 in 47 schools and a community hall, with a total of 136 polling streams

RETURNING OFFICER: Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan, Hulu Selangor District Officer.

ELECTION WORKERS: 1,343