KUALA LUMPUR – Among the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Melaka polls will be for voters to be fully vaccinated, wear masks and observe physical distancing, said Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh.
In a press conference in Melaka, he said voters are encouraged to cast their ballots according to recommended time slots to prevent too many people from gathering at polling stations.
“We have strict SOPs at polling centres. The conditions include completing two doses of the vaccination, wearing face masks and observing physical distancing. Therefore, we urge all voters to get themselves vaccinated… there is still time.
“We will issue the proposed times for voting through our system, just like the MySejahtera application. Voters should avoid going out all together in the morning. If possible, let senior citizens vote in the morning and younger people in the afternoon,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
He said the guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19 would be based on the recommendations and advice of the National Security Council, Health Ministry and police.
According to data on the CovidNow website, Melaka has fully vaccinated 68.6% of its total population as of 11.59pm yesterday.
Ghani said the Supplementary Electoral Roll (RDPT) of Second Quarter 2021 (ST2/2021), which was updated as of October 3, will be used for the state election.
The electoral roll contains 495,196 voters, and EC is targeting 70% voter turnout for the state polls.
He said the roll comprises 482,550 regular voters, 10,191 military personnel and their spouses, 2,349 police personnel and 106 absent voters who are overseas.
The EC has set November 20 as polling day for the Melaka vote and November 8 for nomination, giving parties 12 days to campaign, and early voters can cast their ballots on November 16.
“To assist with the election process, the EC has appointed 28 election officers, who will be assisted by 80 assistant officers.
“The commission has also set up a campaign task force, comprising representatives from police, local councils and candidate staff,” he told reporters after chairing a meeting on the state election.
He said the polls are being held in line with the state constitution, which requires an election to be conducted within 60 days of the state assembly’s dissolution.
The state assembly was dissolved by Governor Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam on October 5 after Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali lost majority support as chief minister.
This followed the withdrawal of support of four assemblymen: former Umno duo Datuk Seri Idris Haron and Datuk Nor Azman Hassan, Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee (independent) and Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad (formerly of Bersatu).
The public has urged the government to put on hold the election by declaring a statewide emergency, similar to the one currently in force in Sarawak.
Pakatan Harapan, along with Norhizam and Noor Effandi, previously urged Ali to rescind his decision to dissolve the state assembly given the health crisis. – The Vibes, October 18, 2021
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