Early voter turnout at 70% at Bentong polling centre, says EC officer

Photo: ART CHEN/The Star

BENTONG: A total of 1,156 early voters, comprising military personnel, members of the police force, and their spouses will cast their ballots here for the 15th General Election (GE15) on Tuesday (Nov 15).

Bentong district police chief Supt Zaiham Mohd Kahar said 258 police personnel will cast their ballots at the Bentong district police headquarters, with a queue already forming before polling opened at 8am.

According to an Election Commission officer, a total of 506 army personnel and officers will cast their ballots at Bentong camp.

At the Mempaga army camp, some 392 army personnel will cast their ballots.

The early voting centres will open from 8am to 5pm.

According to the EC officer, the voter turnout at the Bentong district police headquarters was nearly 70% as of noon.

"At the Bentong district police headquarters voting centre, seven officers who tested positive Covid-19, will be casting their vote," the officer said.

Barisan Nasional’s Bentong candidate Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai also showed up at the Bentong district police headquarters and Bentong army camp while Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Bilut candidate Datuk Seri Chandra A/L visited Bentong camp at 9am.

Pakatan Harapan candidate Young Syefura Othman was also seen visiting the early voting centres at the Bentong district police headquarters, Bentong and Mempaga camps.

The early voting process would be witnessed by agents of the contesting candidates, and broadcast live through the EC's Facebook at selected voting centres.

The ballot papers of the early voters would not be counted on Tuesday, but on polling day on Nov 19. Until then, the ballot boxes would be kept in police station lockers for safekeeping.

GE15 will see candidates vying for 222 parliamentary seats and 117 state seats in Pahang, Perlis and Perak, as well as for the Bugaya state seat in Sabah.