33% voter turnout by 10am, EC chief says encouraging

CAMERON HIGHLANDS The 33% voter turnout rate as of 10am is quite encouraging, says Election Commission chairman Azhar Azizan Harun.

"33% by 10 in the morning is quite high, so we hope more voters turn out in the morning and afternoon, as soon as possible to avoid traffic jams and the like," said Azhar, who arrived to inspect the process at SJK(C) Brinchang at around 10.30am on Saturday (Jan 26).

Voters began lining up outside the Brinchang polling station from 7.30am to cast their votes, he added.

In response to an earlier statement by former MyPPP chairman Tan Sri M. Kayveas that the EC should allow only locals to contest as electoral candidates, Azhar said the issue was related to policy, rather than operational, matters.

"It's up to the policymakers, and MPs to discuss. 

"I feel this will also be raised in the electoral reform committee headed by Tan Sri Ab Rashid Ab Rahman.

"Maybe there will be proposals regarding that, this issue is somewhat outside our jurisdiction, but we'll see what is proposed," he added.

Azhar said he could not comment on the issue, as he had not given considerable thought to the matter.

Earlier, Kayveas commented that if the elected representative was not local, he or she would not be able to fully commit to the constituency.

Candidates Ramli Mohd Nor of Barisan Nasional and M. Manogaran of Pakatan Harapan are not registered voters in Cameron Highlands.

Independents Sallehudin Ab Talib and Wong Seng Yee are casting their votes in Sungai Koyan and Lembah Bertam respectively.