KUANTAN: The 15th general election for the Tioman state seat scheduled today has been postponed following the sudden death of Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Md Yunus Ramli.
State Election Commission (EC) director Datuk Zamree Hamli said the scenario was similar to Padang Serai in Kedah when the EC had announced a new date for polling after the death of one of its candidates on Nov 16.
"The Tioman state seat election will be postponed until the EC decides on a new date. The polls for the Rompin parliament and the other two state seats namely Muadzam Shah and Bukit Ibam will go on as scheduled.
"The election process for Rompin and the remaining two state seats will be carried out as usual. The results will be announced by the returning officer at the vote tallying centre once the process ends today," he said when contacted.
Tioman should have witnessed a five cornered contest between incumbent Datuk Seri Johari Husin(Barisan Nasional), Pejuang's Osman Bakar, Pakatan Harapan's Fadzli Mohd Ramly, independent candidate Sulaiman Bakar and Yunus.
Yunus, who is the Rompin Pas vice commissioner, breathed his last while receiving treatment at Rompin hospital about 3.30am today. He is believed to have died from a heart attack.
Yesterday, the EC fixed Dec 7 for voters in Padang Serai to cast their ballots following the death of Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate M. Karupaiya on, due to heart complications while being treated at Kulim Hospital on Nov 16.
The Rompin parliamentary seat has three state constituencies namely, Muadzam Shah, Ibam and Tioman.