All systems go for ‘new normal’

Blue front: (From left) Cheka assemblyman Lee Ah Wong, Lim, Dr Mah, Dr Wee, Pahang Tourism, Environment and Plantations Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin and Temerloh MCA chief Datuk Henry Wong Tat Chee sharing a light moment in Chini.

PEKAN: A total of 838 personnel are on duty during the Chini state seat by-election today to ensure smooth polling according to the “new normal” during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Election Commission deputy chairman Dr Azmi Sharom said a few final checks were carried out.

The ballot boxes had been thoroughly checked so that the polling process involving 65 lanes at 13 polling centres would run smoothly, he said.

“The heads of polling centres and clerks also checked all items provided by the EC, including stationery, election ink and relevant forms.

“These include hand sanitiser, masks, the brush to apply ink on the fingers and rubber gloves for the 20,816 voters, ” he said after a visit to the vote counting centre at the National Youth Skills Training Institute here yesterday.

There are 66 lanes in 14 polling centres for the by-election, including early voting on June 30 involving 18 police personnel.

Azmi reminded voters to cast their votes early and according to the time “encouraged” on their voter’s card to avoid crowds.

“We are hoping 70% of voters will come out to cast their votes, ” he said, as reported by Bernama, while advising voters to check their polling centres and lanes for a smoother process.

Azmi also advised voters to bring their own masks to the polling centres. However, he said the EC would provide masks for people who did not have them.

He also urged voters to comply with the standard operating procedure.

Separately, in a Facebook post on Thursday, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong urged voters to come out and exercise their right.

“I also hope voters will obey the SOP stated by the Election Commission, ” he said.

Dr Wee, together with party deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon and vice-president Datuk Lim Ban Hong, had arrived in Chini on Thursday.

In the 14th General Election, the late Chini assemblyman Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Harun obtained 10,027 votes against Mohd Fadhil Noor Abdul Karim of PAS (5,405) and Mohamad Razali Ithnain of PKR (1,065).

In this by-election, Barisan Nasional’s Mohd Sharim Md Zain faces Independent candidates Tengku Datuk Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin and Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli.