No long queues, thanks to EC changes
KLANG: An increase in the number of polling channels by the Election Commission as well as low voter turnout meant people did not have to queue for very long to cast their ballot in the Sungai Kandis by-election.
As of 11am yesterday, there was no congestion at the Sekolah Rendah Agama Sungai Kandis and SK Telok Menegon here.
Mat Zamri Mohsin, 50, said it took him less than half an hour to cast his vote.
“I arrived at SRA Sungai Kandis at about 8.30am and by 8.45am I had finished voting.
“I came early in the morning in case it rained later, ” he said.
Mohd Isa Jamil, 56, said having additional polling channels greatly helped with the smooth running of the polling process as he did not have to wait long to vote.
“EC had set up three compartments in every channel, so three persons can vote simultaneously.
“The situation was unlike during the GE, which was crowded. Some people were still waiting for their turn when the polling centre was about to close,” he said.
Senior citizen Zaharah Kasan, 79, said the improvements made by EC have made it easier for the elderly such as herself to cast her vote.
“It is definitely good. There’s no need to wait too long and we can go home quickly,” she said.
EC had announced several improvements in the by-election this time, including setting up two channels for voters aged 60 and above and increasing polling channels at polling centres with a large number of voters.
Twenty-one new channels were set up to prevent overcrowding of voters at any one channel, bringing the total to 109 channels compared to 88 during the GE14 on May 9.
The EC also added another compartment, making it a total of three compartments, in all polling channels so that three people can vote at any one time.
At 11.30am, two vans belonging to the Information Department were seen making rounds in the area, asking for people to come out to vote. State information director Norbaya Jamaludin said this was normal practice during elections.
“The order for us to go and tell people to come out to vote is made by the EC. The EC will monitor the voter turnout. If the turnout is low, the EC will give us the directive,” she said.