A MEDIA worker covering the Negeri Sembilan state election has claimed he was denied entry to the Paroi polling centre while attempting to vote, after being stopped by police and election officials over the absence of a special media pass issued by the Election Commission (EC).
The media worker said his vehicle was initially allowed into the polling centre area while he was conducting observations before he was approached and informed that he could not proceed without the required EC media accreditation.
He claimed he was subsequently instructed to move his vehicle away from the polling centre despite having explained his situation.
“I accepted that I was not allowed to carry out reporting activities inside the polling centre because I did not have the EC special pass. But I was also prevented from voting, even though I am a registered voter for the Paroi state constituency and the polling centre is the designated location where I am supposed to cast my ballot,” he said.
He said the incident took place during heavy rain and believed the matter could have been resolved through better communication and discretion.
“Even if I could not conduct coverage, why could it not have been explained properly? Why was there a need to be rude? Listen first to the explanation being given. We are not deliberately trying to create problems,” he said.
He claimed he later decided not to proceed with voting after being denied entry to the polling centre.
The incident highlights the importance of coordination between election officials, security personnel and media representatives to ensure polling procedures are enforced while protecting the rights of eligible voters on election day. - August 1, 2026
