Sg Bakap polls: A thrill for EC Guides to facilitate voter affairs

NIBONG TEBAL: Polling station guides (PAPM) perform an important task every time there is an election to ensure the smoothness of the voting process at a polling centre.

For Nurul Nadira Ahmad Kamal, 22, the rare opportunity to become an Election Commission (EC) worker is a cherished experience because she enjoys serving the community, the elderly and the disabled.

The private sector employee from Kuala Ketil, Kedah said the Sungai Bakap state by-election was the third election she has served as PAPM after the 15th general election in 2022 and the state election last year.

"It’s interesting (being a guide); we experience different situations and this is also an opportunity to do social work for the community,” she told Bernama at SJKC Boon Beng, a national-type Chinese school near Bandar Tasek Mutiara in Simpang Ampat here on Saturday (July 6).

For Nurul Fatini Azwa Abdul Razak, 26, she was excited about her first time as an EC worker, after being urged by her mother Zaitun Haroon, 54, who has been a PAPM twice, to sign up.

However, in this by-election, her mother was assigned to SK Seri Tasek while her father, also an election worker, was placed at SJKC Boon Beng.

Meanwhile, Muhamad Syafiq Saleh, 35, said he was keen to serve as an EC worker to see the democratic process up close as well as facilitate voters’ affairs.

The youth from Bagan Tiang, Perak, said such a responsibility did not always come by because it was a five-year wait for a general election to be held.

A total of 39,151 voters were eligible to cast their ballots today, with 5,935 registered to do so at SJKC Boon Beng.

The by-election is a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan candidate Dr Joohari Ariffin and Perikatan Nasional's Abidin Ismail. The seat fell vacant after the demise of incumbent Nor Zamri Latiff of PAS on May 24 due to stomach inflammation. - Bernama