Suhaizan Kaiat of PH is ahead in Pulai with a majority of more than 12,600 votes over his closest rival Zulkifli Jaafar of Perikatan Nasional, according to former Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki in a Facebook posting.

In Simpang Jeram, Nazri Abdul Rahman (PH) is ahead by 3,300 votes against Dr Mazri Yahya of PN, Asyraf said.

The PH victory in Pulai ensures that the federal unity coalition will retain its two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

Latest unofficial results at 8.21pm

Pulai:
Suhaizan Kaiat (PH) 11,599
Zulkifli Jaafar (PN): 7,299
Samsudin Fauzi (Ind): 129
Majority: 4,300

Simpang Jeram:
Nazri Abdul Rahman (PH): 12,036
Dr Mazri Yahya (PN): 9,324
S Jeganathan (Ind): 270
Majority: 2,712

The two victories for PH will be seen as a sign that voters in Johor had rebuffed the so-called “green wave” of support for the opposition which had been seen in the general election last year and six state assembly elections last month.

The PH victories also came in the face of predictions by political observers that a low voter turnout would benefit PN candidates, especially in Simpang Jeram.

The Election Commission said 42% of voters had cast their ballots in Pulai and 56% in Simpang Jeram at 4pm.

The two by-elections had been called after the death in July of Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub who had won the Pulai parliamentary seat in the general election last year and the Simpang Jeram state seat in the 2022 state elections.

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