GE15: There is sufficient time to prepare for elections, says Wan Junaidi

PETALING JAYA: The nomination and polling dates given by the Election Commission (EC) is sufficient time for political parties and candidates to prepare for the 15th general election, says Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

"The 14-day campaign period given by the EC from the date of nomination on Nov 5 to polling day on Nov 19 may seem like a long time compared to the 11 days during the last general election.

"But taking into consideration the increase in new voters and polling streams including more fresh faces as candidates, I think that the time given by the EC is just right," the senior Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) politician said when contacted on Thursday (Oct 20).

There will be a total of 31 days from the day of announcement of the dates by EC to polling day and 17 days from the date of EC's announcement to nomination day on Nov 5 and a total of 14 days campaigning period till polling day on Nov 19.

Wan Junaidi, who was first elected as Batang Lupar MP in 1990 and was currently the incumbent for the Santubong parliament seat, noted that the EC would have also taken into consideration the weather as a factor before deciding on the dates.

"The EC would have consulted MetMalaysia and taken into consideration the possibility of sporadic rain or flooding in some areas.

"This will affect travelling and accessibility, especially in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak including some east coast states in the Peninsula.

"More time may be needed for candidates to reach out to voters and the EC to sort out the logistics to prepare for polling day," he said.

The onset of the year end monsoon is said to begin in mid-November.

Wan Junaidi also said political parties wili have slightly more than two weeks to settle seat allocation and distribution among their respective parties or coalitions before nomination day on Nov 5.

Asked if he would be defending his seat for the fifth time, Wan Junaidi kept mum on this, adding that he left it to his party to decide.