KUALA LUMPUR – The Royal Malaysia Police confirmed that three voters died while waiting for their turn to cast their ballots for the 15th general election (GE15) today.
Without providing further details, Police Inspector-General Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said two deaths were reported in Johor and one in Kelantan.
“These incidents are quite upsetting because these voters have health problems and died while queuing to vote,” he told a press conference at the Gombak Police Headquarters here.
Meanwhile, Acryl Sani said there was an incident where a 23-year-old man acted out of control when he grabbed an indelible ink bottle and pushed down a ballot box at the polling centre in SK Ulu Yam Lama, Batang Kali, Selangor.
However, he said it was an isolated incident involving a man suspected of being mentally ill.
On the death of two voters in Johor, the state Election Commission, in a statement, said both of them were senior citizens aged 85, who died at their respective polling centres in Sembrong and Pulai parliamentary constituencies this morning.
It said that Sh Juhara Syed Mohamad died at 9.30am at SMK Sultan Ismail, Johor Baru.
“The voter died suddenly after voting and suffered from shortness of breath. She was found to be unwell when she came to the voting stream but still wanted to cast her vote,” it said.
According to the statement, the other voter, Tuminah Ambiah, died at SJKC Lit Terk, Kluang, at 10.21am.
“She died suddenly before voting and was pronounced dead by a Health Ministry personnel on the scene,” it added.
Meanwhile, Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said a polling agent died at the polling centre in SMK (A) Lati, Pasir Mas, this morning.
He said Mohd Jailani Alias, 53, collapsed after he arrived at the school at about 8am and was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was then taken to Pasir Mas Hospital for post-mortem.
“So far, the case is classified as sudden death pending the post-mortem report.
“The deceased hails from Kg Pondok Lati, and this is the first case involving death at a polling centre in Kelantan,” he told reporters after inspecting the polling centre at the Maktab Rendah Sains Mara in Tumpat here. – Bernama, November 19, 2022
