01/08/2026

SATURDAY | AUG 1, 2026

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Polls bring business boost to Negeri Sembilan

N33 - SRI TANJUNG Sri Tanjung is a state constituency in Negeri Sembilan that was first contested in the 2018 general election. Located within the Port Dickson parliamentary constituency, it covers the town’s urban and coastal areas, where tourism and seaside businesses play an important role in the local economy. The area was historically known as Tanjung before it was developed into a port in the late 19th century. The Port Dickson state seat was renamed Sri Tanjung ahead of the 2018 election. The seat has been held by Pakatan Harapan since its creation, with Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Ravi Munusamy elected as its first assemblyman in 2018. He was succeeded by Rajasekaran Gunnasekaran in 2023. At a glance: Incumbent: Rajasekaran Gunnasekaran (PH) Registered voters: 19,239 Demographic: Malay: 38.7%, Chinese: 31.3%, Indian: 27.1%, Others: 1.5%, Sabah Bumiputera: 0.9%, Sarawak Bumiputera: 0.5%, Orang Asli: 0.0% N.34 – GEMAS Gemas is a state constituency in Negeri Sembilan that was first contested in 1959. Located near the border between Negeri Sembilan and Johor, it is a historic railway town and major transport hub linking the West Coast railway line with the East Coast’s“Jungle Railway”. The town also has significant links to World War II, including the Battle of Gemas and the Gemencheh Bridge ambush in 1942. Gemas grew around its railway infrastructure and remains an important transit point between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. At a glance: Incumbent: Ridzuan Ahmad (PN Bersatu) Registered voters: 25,265 Demographic: Malay: 83.6%, Chinese: 7.7%, Indian: 4.9%, Bumi Sarawak: 2.0%, Bumi Sabah: 1.2%, Others: 0.6%, Orang Asli: 0.1% N.35 – GEMENCHEH Gemencheh is a state constituency in Negeri Sembilan that was first contested in 1974. Located in the Tampin district, it is a small town known for its historical significance, traditional culture and agricultural heritage. The area is closely linked to World War II, with the nearby Gemencheh Bridge being the site of a major ambush during the Japanese advance in 1942. Politically, the constituency has traditionally been a Barisan Nasional stronghold, particularly for Umno. At a glance: Incumbent: Suhaimizan Bizar Registered voters: 24,883 Demographic: Malay: 62.5%, Chinese: 21.7%, Indian: 15.1%, Others: 0.5%, Bumi Sarawak: 0.1%, Orang Asli: 0.1%, Repah is a state constituency in Negeri Sembilan that was first contested in 1986. Located in the Tampin district, it is a semi rural seat known for its diverse community and historical heritage. Among its notable landmarks is the Datuk Nisan Tinggi Megalith in Kampung Repah, recognised as one of the tallest megaliths in the Malay Archipelago. Politically, Repah has been represented by both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan, reflecting its status as a competitive constituency with a diverse electorate. At a glance: Incumbent: S. Veerapan Superamaniam (DAP-PH) Registered voters: 27,577 Demographic: Chinese: 41.0%, Malay: 40.1%, Indian: 17.4%, Others: 0.8%, Orang Asli: 0.4%, Bumi Sabah: 0.1%, Bumi Sarawak: 0.1% Bumi Sabah: 0.1% N.36 – REPAH

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

MACC has yet to disclose the identities of those named in the four reports or the specific locations and constituencies involved as investigations remain ongoing. Meanwhile, police received 87 reports and opened 23 investigation papers involving alleged election offences during the campaign period for the state election. Alzafny added that 761 of the 787 permit applications submitted for political talks and campaign activities during the same period were approved. – Bernama a brief stop to cast their ballots. Nurul Izzati, 30, who works in Penang, chose to return several days earlier rather than make a rushed trip on polling day. “I could have come back just to vote. But I thought, why not spend more time with my family? “We hardly get the chance to sit down together because everyone is busy working,” she said. Nurul added that elections had become one of the few occasions that brought siblings and relatives living in different states back under the same roof. “It feels like a family reunion, like balik kampung . Voting is important, but so is coming home.” In Kuala Pilah, the pull of home was just as evident around the dining table. At a popular masak lemak cili api stall, Ahmad Faeez, 34, who returned home a week earlier, said the election had given him another reason to reconnect with his family while enjoying the atmosphere in his hometown. “You can find food anywhere, but you cannot replace the feeling of eating food from your hometown. “You miss the food, you miss the people and you miss the slower pace of life here. “It is also nice to see all the campaign flags and activities. They make the town feel livelier,” he said. For small businesses, the election-driven influx may last only a few days, but operators said the additional customers had provided a welcomed lift. Kak Sal, 45, who runs a roadside eatery in Port Dickson, said business had been unusually brisk throughout the week. “Normally, we know what to expect on weekdays. But this week, every day has felt like a weekend. “You can really see the difference. It is not only party supporters coming in. Families who have not returned in months are also stopping by.” Today, 867,151 ordinary voters in Negeri Sembilan will decide the state’s next government as Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional Perikatan Nasional and Bersatu battle for control in a closely watched election that has drawn thousands of voters home from across the country.

o Returning voters filling hotels, restaurants and small eateries as polling day turns into hometown reunion

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PORT Negeri Sembilan’s state election is delivering an unexpected dividend beyond the ballot box, with thousands of returning voters giving local businesses a welcomed boost as they head home to cast their ballots today. Hotels are reporting higher occupancy, restaurants are receiving more diners and small traders are enjoying brisk business as voters combine their civic duty with family reunions and short hometown getaways. From budget hotels in Seremban and Port Dickson to family-run eateries in Kuala Pilah, operators said the surge became increasingly noticeable during the final week of campaigning, with many visitors arriving days before polling. At a budget hotel in Seremban, a front office employee said bookings began picking up shortly after nomination day two weeks ago, initially driven by campaign workers, party volunteers and supporters DICKSON:

as returning voters turned their journey home into a short holiday. “We have received bookings almost every day this week, but Thursday and Friday were the busiest,” a hotel employee said. “Some guests told us

travelling between constituencies. “In the first few days, you could tell who had come for politics. They arrived wearing party shirts, carrying flags and following campaign schedules. The lobby almost felt like a small operations centre. “But towards the end of the week, the guests changed. We started seeing more families He added that occupancy was noticeably higher than during the final week of campaigning, with some guests booking several days before polling day. A similar pattern emerged in Port Dickson, where budget hotels recorded a steady rise in bookings and people returning from other states,” he said.

they did not want to simply drive in, vote and leave. They wanted to spend time with their families and enjoy Port Dickson before heading back.” The increase in visitors was also evident beyond hotel lobbies.

On evening, restaurants, cafes and the Port Dickson waterfront were noticeably busier than usual, while nearby beaches attracted larger crowds than earlier in the week. For some voters, the journey home was never intended to be just Thursday

Sri Tanjung, located within the Port Dickson constituency, covers the town’s urban and coastal areas, with tourism and seaside commerce playing a vital role for the local economy. – HARITH KAMAL/THESUN

Four reports lodged over alleged cash handouts PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) has confirmed receiving four separate reports involving alleged cash handouts linked to the ongoing Negeri Sembilan state election. the matter,” he said at MACC headquarters yesterday. Chegubard, that he had received information suggesting payments ranging from RM300 to RM500 were made to individuals, including uniformed personnel such as police officers, during early voting.

Abd Halim explained that investigators would determine whether the allegations amounted to corruption under existing laws or constituted offences under election-related legislation. He added that the commission has established a dedicated operations room to monitor and respond to complaints throughout the election. The reports followed claims by political activist Badrul Hisham Shaharim, widely known as

Responding to the claims, Negeri Sembilan police chief Datuk Alzafny Ahmad said any formal police report lodged over the allegations would be investigated transparently. He added that any findings indicating misconduct by police personnel would be referred to MACC for further action.

MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said the reports were lodged on Thursday and involved two election candidates and two individuals who had cast their ballots during early voting. “The reports involve allegations of cash handouts and we will conduct further investigations into