798 EC officers, staff to monitor polling centres
A total of 798 Election Commission (EC) officers and staff will be stationed at 19 polling centres here today to ensure the smooth process of the Sandakan parliamentary by-election.
The commission has added two polling centres to the 17 reported previously. There will be 90 channels.
EC is also stationing an additional officer at voting channels meant for senior citizens and people with disabilities to provide them assistance.
There are 39,684 eligible electorates in the Sandakan constituency. EC is targeting a 70 per cent voter turnout.
However, its deputy chairman, Dr Azmi Sharom, said the percentage could be less after taking into account voters who were working or residing elsewhere and unable to return home to vote.
“Some may feel it is just a byelection and choose not to come. On the contrary, all elections are important and we hope voters would come out and exercise their rights,” he said at the ballot counting centre at SMJK Tiong Hua here yesterday.
Azmi and EC secretary Datuk Mohamed Elias Abu Bakar were at the centre to inspect the distribution process of ballot materials.
Azmi said polling centres would open at 7.30am and close at 5pm, adding that the EC expected the official early result to be announced by 10pm, or earlier.
He said he was satisfied with the preparations by the commission for the by-election and the two-week campaign trail.
“Well, so far so good. Of course, there are problems and complaints, but they are minor.
“Everybody is behaving well. The Sandakan by-election process is a model to emulate,” said Azmi.
On May 7, the early voting saw a 75 per cent turnout from the 270 eligible voters, comprising police personnel.
Two days ago, EC chairman Azhar Azizan Harun said 172 people voted via postal voting.