Five die at polling centres

They comprise two voters, two polling agents and ec man

KUALA LUMPUR: Five people – two voters, two polling agents and an Election Commission (EC) worker – died during the voting process at various places around the country.

Two deaths were reported in Johor and one in Kelantan, while a man was found dead in his car in Melaka.

The EC worker collapsed and died while sitting in a buggy in Klang.

The Johor EC, in a statement, said the two women who died in the state were both aged 85.

They died at their respective polling centres in Sembrong and Pulai.

Sh Juhara Syed Mohamad died at 9.30am at SMK Sultan Ismail, Johor Baru.

“The voter suffered from shortness of breath and collapsed after voting. She was found to be unwell when she came to the voting station but still wanted to cast her vote,” the EC said.

The other voter, Tuminah Ambiah, died at SJKC Cina Lit Terk, Kluang, at 10.21am.

“She died suddenly before voting. She was pronounced dead by Health Ministry’s personnel at the scene,” it added.

Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat confirmed the two deaths, adding that their remains had been sent to hospital for post-mortem.

“These incidents are quite upsetting because the voters had health problems and died while queuing to vote,” Inspector-general of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani told a press conference at the Gombak district police headquarters here.

Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said a polling agent died at the voting centre in SK Agama Lati, Pasir Mas.

Mohd Jailani Alias, 53, collapsed after he arrived at the school at about 8am and was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken to Hospital Pasir Mas for post-mortem.

In Melaka, 41-year-old Tay Chee Wai from Bukit Katil was found dead in his car at Lorong Pandan. He was found lifeless by passers-by at 7.10am.

He is believed to have been a GE15 volunteer in the Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency.

In Klang, the EC worker died at 12.15pm while on duty at SMK Methodist ACS, Jalan Raya Barat.

South Klang OCPD Asst Comm Cha Hoong Fong said the 45-yearold man, who had a heart condition, fell unconscious while sitting in a buggy there.

“An ambulance rushed the man to Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah,” he said in a statement.

He died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Acryl Sani said there was an incident where a 23-year-old man grabbed an indelible ink bottle and pushed it down a ballot box at the polling centre in SK Ulu Yam Lama, Batang Kali, Selangor.

He said it was an isolated incident and the man is suspected to be mentally ill.