Johor polls: EC urged to tackle logistics issues arising from SPM coinciding with election

JOHOR BARU: The Election Commission (EC) needs to resolve several issues that would come about with the state election falling during the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination next month, says former Kulai councillor Marina Ibrahim.

"Education Minister (Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin) has told the EC not to use secondary schools as voting stations for the election.

"The EC needs to solve this issue immediately as the country is still facing the threat of Covid-19 with the number of cases increasing day by day,” she said.

Marina also urged the EC to provide more voting stations to avoid crowds building up on polling day, March 12.

"They also need to provide more facilities for people to vote so as to keep the voting stations from being crowded," she said in a statement on Sunday (Feb 13).

Marina, who is also Johor DAP deputy information secretary, said that if the matter is not addressed immediately, it would also cause confusion among voters as to their voting stations.

"Time is running out fast and we are just a few days away from nomination day. The EC needs to address several questions to give voters peace of mind.

"How many voting stations will there be for the state election? Are the halls and primary schools enough to accommodate the number of voters, including new voters?" she said.

She also asked if the EC would have enough manpower to oversee the election.

"Normally, EC's staff would include teachers. Are teachers from primary schools alone enough?

"How many extra hands would they need if teachers from secondary schools are not involved (owing to their involvement in conducting the SPM)?" she said.

On Saturday (Feb 12), Radzi said the Education Ministry would write to the EC informing it that secondary schools would be occupied during the SPM.

"The SPM examination will be from March 2 to 29, and the ministry has already made the necessary preparations for the students to sit for such an important exam.

"We have no problem if the EC were to use primary schools instead of secondary schools for polling day in the Johor state election," he added.

The EC has set nomination day on Feb 26, while early voting is on March 8.