Bring your umbrella, it’s going to be a wet nomination day

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has forecast rain and thunderstorms in several parts of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak throughout nomination day today.

MetMalaysia said rain is forecast in the morning for one or two areas in Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Pahang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, and Johor while in Sabah, the areas affected are the state’s interiors and in Sandakan, Kudat, and Labuan.

At night, rain is forecast for one or two areas in Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negri Sembilan, Johor, the west coast of Sabah, and Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong and Kapit in Sarawak, it said in a statement.

In the peninsula, thunderstorms have been forecast in the evening at several areas in 12 states, while in Sabah, it will involve the interiors, the west coast, Tawau, Sandakan and Kudat, Bernama reported.

As for Sarawak, thunderstorms are forecast for Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Kapit, Bintulu, Miri, and Limbang while in the evening, rain is expected in one or two places in Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman and Betong.

At night, thunderstorms have been forecast for several places in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the interiors of Sabah, and also in Labuan.

Though there will be rain clouds overhead, on the ground police personnel will be on hand to ensure the day is not darkened by any incident.

The police will deploy drones together with more than 31,000 personnel to ensure public security on nomination day.

Candidates and supporters have also been urged to obey police instructions and refrain from causing disturbances and provocation throughout the process today.

Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Comm Datuk Seri Hazani Ghazali said 31,183 uniformed and plain clothes personnel would be mobilised.

“Besides personnel, we will also deploy our drone units to monitor the situation,” said Comm Hazani, who is also Police Force GE15 Operations director in a statement yesterday

He urged those involved to cooperate by following the law and refraining from any acts of provocation.

Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Arjunaidi Mohamed said his men would not hesitate to take strict action against those intent on causing a ruckus during this time.

“We called the respective parties over and briefed them on where to park their vehicles, gather and march toward the nomination centres to avoid potential conflict.

“We have also informed them that the use of loudspeakers and verbal provocations are prohibited,” he told reporters at the Selangor police headquarters here yesterday.He said they had been advised to cooperate with police instructions and refrain from shouting aggressively.