PUTRAJAYA, June 6 — The Election Commission (EC) has set July 6 for polling for the Sungai Bakap by-election in Penang.
EC deputy chairman Azmi Sharom said the nomination and early voting were set for June 22 and July 2, respectively.
Azmi announced this after chairing the EC special meeting at the headquarters here today.
The Sungai Bakap seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Nor Zamri Latiff on May 24 at the intensive care unit of the Hospital Seberang Jaya. The 56-year-old was admitted to hospital due to stomach inflammation.
The Sungai Bakap polls will be the eighth by-election held after the November 22 general election.
Azmi said the electoral roll to be used for the Sungai Bakap by-election was updated on May 24.
“The electoral roll for Sungai Bakap contains 39,279 voters, comprising 39,222 regular voters and 57 police officers," he said.
He said the by-election would cost RM2.1 million, with 522 election workers to be appointed.
The by-election will have nine polling centres with 65 channels, and one early voting centre and channel.
The nomination process and official tallying centre will be at the Jawi Multipurpose Hall in Taman Desa Jawi, Penang.
Azmi said the campaign period is set for 14 days, starting from the declaration of candidates after the nomination on June 22 until 11:59pm on July 5.
“Two enforcement teams have been set up to monitor campaign activities throughout the campaign period,” he said, adding that the teams comprise police personnel, local authority representatives and contesting candidates.
Azmi said the application process for all categories of postal votes, both domestic and overseas, for the by-election will be open online starting today.
The closing date for applications is June 20 for Category 1A (election staff, EC members/officers, police, military, and media personnel), June 13 for Category 1B (Malaysian citizens residing abroad), and Category 1C (agencies/organisations).
Meanwhile, Azmi called on prospective candidates to complete and pre-check their nomination forms at the Returning Officer’s Office or the Penang EC before nomination day.
EC invited government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and interested parties to become observers to monitor the by-election process from nomination day until results are announced.
“They are allowed to observe the process at the nomination centre, polling centres, and vote counting and tallying centre, but must comply with all appointment conditions set by the EC,” he said.
— Bernama
