Sending ballot boxes to Telok Melano will be most challenging task — EC

LUNDU: The process to send ballot boxes to Telok Melano is expected to be the most challenging task in the Tanjong Datu state by- election.

The easiest access to Telok Melano, located in the most western point of the island of Borneo, is via sea route, but the current condition of rough seas and strong winds would make it very risky.

The Tanjong Datu by- election returning officer, Hamsein Atar, 60, said that despite the challenges they were fully prepared, mentally and physically, to ship the boxes to Telok Melano, either by sea or via the Pan Borneo Highway, which is still under construction.

He said on Feb 17 all the heads of polling stations would be called to inspect the election tools, including the ballot boxes, to make sure everything was ready and in place.

“Once the inspection is completed, the ballot boxes will be taken directly to the police station and only be sent to the polling stations in the early morning of Feb 18 ( polling day).

“However, all the ballot boxes for Telok Melano will be taken to Sematan first before being sent to Telok Melano. On whether the delivery will be done by sea or land route, it will be determined later,” he said in an interview with Bernama, here yesterday.

“Since it is rainy season now with rough sea condition, I have discussed with the Election Commission ( EC) on the possibility to use land route through the (incomplete) Pan Borneo Highway from Sematan to Telok Melano.

“I’ve contacted Lebuhraya Borneo Utara Sdn Bhd ( LBU) and they informed us that the route is accessible using a four-wheel- drive (4WD), and they ( LBU) will act as our guide to Telok Melano. The journey may take about an hour, almost equal to using the sea route,” he said.

On the trip to bring back the ballot boxes from Telok Melano to the counting centre at the Lundu community hall, Hamsein said the first choice would be using a helicopter.

“However, if the weather is bad, the boxes will be brought back using 4WDs from Telok Melano, again via the Pan Borneo Highway,” he said.

According to EC, Telok Melano has 172 voters and the polling station will be opened at Sekolah Kebangsaan Telok Melano. —