JOHOR BARU: With nomination day a week away, an individual has paid the RM5,000 deposit to stand as a candidate in the Simpang Jeram state by-election, says Johor Election Commission (EC) director Nor Nekman Jaimon.
He, however, declined to reveal if the individual belongs to a political party.
So far, eight nomination forms have been bought – including by that individual – for the upcoming Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram by-elections, he added.
Simpang Jeram is a state constituency under Pulai.
Nor Nekman said two of the forms bought are for Pulai while the other six are for Simpang Jeram.
“Among them, one individual has paid the deposit for Simpang Jeram,” he said when met during a briefing with the media at Johor Tourism Information Centre (Jotic) here yesterday.
The deposit to stand as a candidate in a parliamentary seat is RM10,000. The aspiring candidates can pay for the deposit in advance or on nomination day.
Nomination day for the Simpang Jeram state and Pulai parliamentary by-elections has been set for Aug 26.
Polling will be on Sept 9, with early voting on Sept 5.
Meanwhile, Nor Nekman said as of July 23, 166,653 individuals in Pulai and 40,379 in Simpang Jeram are eligible to vote.
There will be 49 polling stations in Pulai with two of them involving early voters while Simpang Jeram will have 14 polling stations and no early voting.
“EC preparations for the two by-elections are at 80% and we will be fully ready in a few days,” he added.
He also said 2,674 EC officers and staff members will be involved in Pulai and another 674 personnel in Simpang Jeram for the by-elections.
The seats fell vacant following the passing of Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, 61, who was the elected representative for both seats. He died on July 23 after suffering a brain haemorrhage.
Salahuddin was Amanah deputy president and had served as the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister.
