PUTRAJAYA: Polling day for the Mahkota by-election has been set for Sept 28, says the Election Commission (EC).
Its chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said Nomination Day will be on Sept 14, with early voting on Sept 24.
“The campaigning period has been set for 14 days, beginning after the nomination of candidates on Sept 14 until 11.59pm on Sept 27,” he said after chairing a special EC meeting on Tuesday (Aug 13).
The nomination process will be held at the Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail in Kluang, Johor, which is also the official vote tallying centre.
ALSO READ: National leadership will decide candidate for Mahkota seat, says Mat Sabu
Ramlan said the electoral roll to be used for the by-election would be the version updated as of Aug 2.
“This list includes 66,318 voters, consisting of 61,397 regular voters; 4,510 military personnel and their spouses; 401 police officers; and 10 registered overseas absentee voters,” he said.
There will be 20 regular polling centres with 109 polling streams on Sept 28, and three early voting centres with 11 streams on Sept 24.
Ramlan said the application process for all categories of postal votes, both domestic and overseas, would be open online starting Tuesday.
The closing date for applications has also been set at Sept 11 for Category 1A (election staff, EC members/officers, police, military and media personnel), and Aug 26 for both Category 1B (Malaysian citizens residing abroad) and Category 1C (agencies/organisations).
ALSO READ : Johor Speaker notifies EC of Mahkota seat vacancy
“Application for postal voting will be done online” Ramlan said.
He added that 1,126 election workers will be appointed to oversee the by-election, which is expected to cost RM2.4mil.
An election campaign enforcement team will also be set up to monitor the activities of candidates.
“It will consist of representatives from the police, local government authorities as well as representatives from the candidates,” Ramlan said.
He also invited any government agencies, non-governmental organisations, or interested parties to become election observers to monitor the by-election process from nominations until the announcement of results.
Those interested in becoming observers may obtain information and the necessary application forms from the EC portal at www.spr.gov.my from today.
The cut-off date for applying is Aug 28.
For information on their individual details, polling centres and voter numbers, voters are advised to visit https://mysprsemak.spr.gov.my, use the MySPR Semak app, or contact the SPR hotline at 03-8892 7218, which will be active from Sept 9.
The Johor state seat fell vacant following the death of Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2.
Sharifah Azizah, 63, who was Kluang Wanita Umno chief, passed away while receiving treatment at Hospital Enche' Besar Hajjah Khalsom in Kluang.
The former Johor Wanita Umno chief was admitted to the intensive care unit after experiencing breathing difficulties.
