Pulai polls: EC targets 99% of early voters to cast their ballots

JOHOR BARU: The Election Commission (EC) is targeting at least 99% of the 927 early voters consisting of police officers and personnel to come out to vote for the Pulai parliamentary by-election.

Its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh said the early voting process at the Kempas police station and the Marine Police Region II headquarters here, which opened simultaneously at 8am Tuesday (Sept 5) morning, went smoothly.

"There are two channels at Marine Police Region II headquarters and one channel at the Kempas police station. We see in terms of the voting trend, it is very good, with 16% in the first hour followed by 34% in the second hour.

"The attendance is very encouraging and we hope that these two early voting centres will achieve a good percentage, at least 99% of early voters, turning out to vote," he said when met by reporters at the Marine Police Region II headquarters here on Tuesday (Sept 5).

Out of 927 voters, a total of 46 people are listed as eligible at the Kempas police station, and 881 at Marine Police Region II headquarters.

Abdul Ghani also advised voters for the parliamentary seat and Simpang Jeram state seat to go out and fulfil their responsibilities early this Saturday (Sept 9) in addition to not giving their MyKad to non-officials involved in the election.

"Go out to vote early or according to the time suggested by the EC. Voters must not to give their MyKad to unknown individuals and keep their identity documents safe so that no problems arise.

"For voters who are outside the area, go back to your respective hometowns and fulfil your responsibilities as voters in these two areas," he said.

The Pulai Parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections were called following the death of Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, who was also domestic trade and cost of living minister, on July 23.

Pulai has 166,653 registered voters while Simpang Jeram has 40,379.