CHINI FOLK ALL ALL SET TO CAST BALLOTS

Don’t wait until last minute to cast votes, EC deputy chief advises voters ahead of polls today

IT is all systems go for the Chini state seat by-election, which is set for polling today.

The Election Commission (EC) yesterday conducted final checks to ensure sufficient supply of equipment and facilities at all 13 polling stations involving 65 voting streams within the state constituency in Pahang.

Its deputy chairman, Dr Azmi Shahrom, said 838 election workers would be stationed on the ground to ensure polling for the by-election proceeded smoothly.

He advised all 20,816 voters in Chini, who will cast their votes today, to follow the suggested time on their voter cards.

“Do not wait until the last minute even though polling hours have been fixed from 8am until 5.30pm,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He reminded employers to allow their workers who are registered voters to cast their votes.

“Employers who prevent their employees from going out to vote face action under Section 25 (3) of the Election Offences Act 1954, which carries a RM5,000 fine or one year imprisonment upon conviction,” he said.

He also reminded candidates contesting in the by-election and their respective election machineries that they are forbidden from canvassing for votes even through social media platforms once the campaign period had ended.

The two-week long campaign for the Chini state seat by-election ended at 11.59pm last night.

“Once the period ends, all parties should stop any form of campaigning and canvassing for votes.

“All parties are not allowed to canvass for votes outside the polling stations as well as various social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram,” he said.

The Chini state seat by-election will see a three-cornered fight between Mohd Sharim Md Zain from Barisan Nasional and two independent candidates — Tengku Datuk Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin and Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli.