17 cops cast ballots in early voting
Candidates and eC officials satisfied with sOP adherence in the new normal
PEKAN: Seventeen police personnel have cast their ballots in the early voting for the Chini state seat by-election.
One police personnel did not turn up to vote at the early voting centre at the Information Room in the Chini Police Station near here yesterday.
The four-hour early voting process started at 8am and was witnessed by agents of the candidates contesting the seat, as well as election observers comprising representatives of various organisations and non-governmental organisations appointed by the Election Commission (EC).
The process concluded at noon. The ballot boxes for the early votes are being kept at the police lock-up and will be counted on polling day this Saturday at the counting centre at the Information Room of the Paloh Hinai police station.
Also present yesterday was EC secretary Ikmalrudin Ishak, Chini by-election returning officer Datuk Zaliza Zulkifli and the three contesting candidates – Barisan Nasional’s Mohd Sharim Md Zain, 41, and the two Independent candidates – Tengku Datuk Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin, 64, and Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli, 49.
At a press conference held here, Zaliza said the early voting process was smooth without any hitches.
“I am satisfied with the level of SOP compliance during the Chini early voting process. It went smoothly without any incident,” he said.
All the three candidates told reporters when met after they had viewed the centre that they were satisfied with the early voting process conducted in the new normal.
The by-election is being held following the death of its incumbent Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Harun, 60, at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on May 7 due to a heart attack.
The constituency has 20,990 voters, with 90.39% or 19,058 being Malay. The voters comprised 10,269 men and 10,721 women.
The state seat is one of four in the Pekan Parliamentary constituency.
This by-election is the first to be held after the movement control order was enforced on March 18, and the 11th after the 14th General Election.