[UPDATED] Johoreans to head to polls on March 12: EC chairman

JOHOR BARU – Johor will head to the ballots in a month’s time, with the Election Commission (EC) announcing March 12 as polling day.

The electoral body set February 26 for nomination, giving political parties and candidates 13 days to campaign.

EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh told a press conference today that early voting will be held on March 8.

Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had assented to the dissolution of the state assembly over two weeks ago on January 22 to pave way for a fresh election, following an audience with Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad at the palace.

Umno has been pushing for a fresh mandate in the state, with the party holding a razor-thin majority of only one seat prior to the dissolution, following the death of Bersatu’s Kempas assemblyman Datuk Osman Sapian on December 21.

Osman’s death had left the Umno-led Johor government with 28 seats against Pakatan Harapan’s  27.

Bersatu was previously part of the state administration but will now head into the polls with its Perikatan Nasional partner PAS as they look to oust Umno, who is looking to redominate the country following its shock defeat in the 2018 general election at the federal and multiple state levels.

The early election in Johor is the third in recent months, with Barisan Nasional clinching Melaka last November winning 21 of the 28 state constituencies, while its ally Gabungan Parti Sarawak won 76 of 82 seats in the Borneo state last December.

The EC also announced that the voting period on polling day will be extended by 30 minutes, meaning polling stations will be open from 8am to 6pm on March 12.

For postal voters, previous restrictions for those residing in southern Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Kalimantan, Indonesia has been abolished.

Meanwhile, those in Malaysia or have returned to Malaysia not less than 30 days from the five years before the of the state assembly dissolution will be allowed to partake in postal voting.

It was also explained that the EC will be using a voter roll that has been updated up to January 21 this year.

This will see 2,597,742 individuals eligible to vote. – The Vibes, February 9, 2022