KLUANG: Final preparations are underway at Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail to ensure a smooth process during tomorrow’s (Sept 14) nomination day for the Mahkota by-election.
Checks at the Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail, located along Jalan Mengkibol here, found many Kluang Municipal Council (MPK) staff were busy arranging chairs and tables.
Police are also putting up security barriers around the premises to enhance safety during the nomination process for the by-election.
Authorities are also closing several roads leading up to Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail between 7am and 12pm during the nomination process.
Among the roads are Jalan Mengkibol, Jalan Besar Mengkibol, Jalan Batu Pahat-Mersing, Jalan Ismail-Jalan Batu Pahat, Jalan Station-Jalan Batu Pahat, Jalan Panggung to Blue Diamond, Jalan Persiaran Yayasan-Jalan Dato Kapt Ahmad, Jalan Dato Kapt Ahmad, Jalan Mersing-Jalan Batu Pahat.
Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan supporters are expected to gather in front of the Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) building while Perikatan Nasional supporters will be gathering at Taman Tasik public parking space.
The nomination period will start at 9am, with prospective candidates having until 10am to submit their forms before Returning Officer Azurawati Wahid announces the names of contesting candidates.
The 14-day campaigning period will commence after the nominations until 11.59pm on Sept 27.
Barisan has named Kluang youth chief Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, 40, as its candidate while Perikatan picked former Johor footballer Mohamad Haizan Jaafar, 61, to represent the coalition.
According to the Election Commission (EC), the electoral roll for the by-election consists of 66,318 voters, comprising 61,397 ordinary voters, 401 police personnel, 4,510 military personnel and their spouses and 10 absentee voters abroad.
Early voting is scheduled for Sept 24, involving three centres with 11 stations. The main polling day will be on Sept 28, utilising 20 centres and 109 voting stations.
A total of 1,126 staff members will be deployed to manage the by-election.
On Thursday, Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar said more than 1,000 policemen would be on duty to monitor the Mahkota by-election nomination day.
He said this was to ensure that the nomination process, which will be held at Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail, runs smoothly.
"A total of 1,074 officers and personnel from the Johor police contingent will be deployed to manage traffic and maintain security throughout the nomination process.
"They will be stationed at strategic locations to monitor the situation and prevent any incidents that could disrupt public order," he said.
The Mahkota seat became vacant following the death of its assemblyman, Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, on Aug 2.
In the Johor state election in March 2022, Sharifah Azizah, who was representing Barisan, won the seat with a majority of 5,166 votes.
The Mahkota polls will be the 10th by-election after the 15th General Election.
