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Published: Wednesday May 27, 2009 MYT 2:05:00 PM

EC to prepare reserve symbols for future elections

By EMBUN MAJID


ALOR SETAR: The Election Commission will prepare a list of reserve symbols in case there are more than 20 candidates taking part in an election in future.

Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof said that the decision was made following the large number of candidates for the Bukit Selambau by-election in April.

In that April 7 by-election, PKR candidate S. Manikumar beat Barisan Nasional’s Datuk S. Ganesan and 13 independent candidates, all of whom lost their deposits.

“Before the Bukit Selambau by-election I had proposed that we reduce the number of symbols from 20 to 10.

“Now we will retain the 20 symbols and at the same time prepare a list of reserve symbols for future use,” he said when met after visiting the Malaysia National Printing Company (MNPC) factory at Jalan Stesen here on Wednesday.

Abdul Aziz was inspecting the ballot papers for the May 31 Penanti by-election that were printed at the factory.

PKR candidate Mansor Othman will be up against three independent candidates -- Aminah Abdullah, 56, Nai Khan Ari, 41, and Kamarul Ramizu Idris, 42, for the Penanti state seat.

Abdul Aziz said the ballot papers had been sent to Penanti at about 11am and arrived at about 2pm on Wednesday. Polling for postal voters begins at 3pm on Wednesday.

MNPC had printed a total of 350 booklets, each containing 50 ballot papers, for normal voters and 10 booklets, also containing 50 ballot papers each, for postal voters.

Besides the 24 police personnel who are registered as postal voters there are also Election Commission workers who would be casting their votes as postal voters in the Penanti by-election, Abdul Aziz said.

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