IPOH: With 66% increase in the number of new voters, the Tambun parliamentary seat in Perak, where Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will take on ex-menteri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, has the highest number of new voters in the state.

Of the 160,645 new voters, 7.39% are between 18 and 20 years old.

The voting trend of new voters is crucial as the Tambun parliamentary seat has been gaining attention ever since Anwar announced his decision to take on Ahmad Faizal, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s deputy president defending the seat.

Perak election commission director Mohd Nazri Ismail said in an interview with Chinese media that first-time voters in Manjoi and Hulu Kinta, two state seats under Tambun, are among those with the highest numbers of first-time voters.

First-time voters in Manjoi make up of 6.7% of all voters in the constituency, and Hulu Kinta 7.39%, he said.

In the 2018 election, Ahmad Faizal, contesting under Pakatan Harapan, won with a majority of 5,320 votes, defeating former Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, a five-term MP, and PAS’ Muhamad Zulkifli Mohamad Zakaria.

Ahmad Faizal was Perak Menteri Besar under the Pakatan Harapan state government and was appointed Youth and Sports Minister under Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob after his party quit the Pakatan Harapan coalition.