BY ELECTION

Permatang Pasir by-election: polling day on Aug 25

The Sun, 10/8/09 by Husna Yusop

PUTRAJAYA (Aug 10, 2009): The Election Commission (EC) decided today that nomination for the Permatang Pasir by-election in Penang will be held on Aug 17, followed by polling on Aug 25.
It also decided to strictly enforce the law by not allowing any form of campaigning or canvassing of votes on polling day, including the setting up of pondok panas by political parties.

Announcing this, EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the decision was made based on the bitter experience in Manek Urai last month, when fights had erupted among party supporters. Abdul Aziz showing the map of Permatang Pasir."According to the Elections Offences Act 1954, there should not be any campaigning activities on polling day, but we gave some flexibility in previous elections like in Penanti and Manek Urai.

"This was because the political parties involved gave their word that there would not be any untoward incidents," he told a press conference at the EC headquarters today. The Permatang Pasir state seat fell vacant when its assemblyman Datuk Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman from PAS died on July 31. Abdul Aziz said the police will helping the EC to enforce the law and those found guilty may face action of up to one year's jail or RM5,000 fine, or both. He said he was 97% confident that those involved will adhere to the law this time around as the election will be held on the fourth day of the fasting month.

"I hope political leaders will play their role to observe the law and advise their supporters accordingly," he said, adding that this is not the first time a by-election is being held during Ramadan -- previous cases were Lunas by-election in 2000 and Sabah state election in 1994.
"Hopefully, as it is the fasting month, they will not go overboard with their campaigns and refrain from doing anything negative," he added. Abdul Aziz added that out of respect for the fasting month, the EC has decided to announce the election results at 8pm sharp, once finalised, without waiting for matters which are not required under the law.

"In order to allow Muslims to carry out their Terawih prayers and such, we have set the time to announce the result. We will do it at 8pm even without the presence of the winner. "We do not want to be late just because we have to wait for unnecessary things like the presence of agents, candidates or political leaders," he added. Asked why the EC decided on an early date for this by-election, he said the decision was made based on the fact that it has until Sept 29 (60 days after seat feel vacant) to hold the election.

"We will be in the fasting month soon, then we will have the Hari Raya Puasa. The time is not right to have all these things. So, we want to resolve everything as soon as possible in the fasting month," he said. Abdul Aziz said the electoral roll to be used for the by-election is the Master Electoral Roll 2008 combined with the Supplementary Roll for the first quarter of 2009, which has been updated until July 31. It will be sold beginning Aug 14.

It has 20,290 registered voters including one postal voter, and the breakdown of voters is 72.36% Malay, 25.85% Chinese, 1.63% Indian and 0.16% others. Seberang Prai Tengah district officer Roslan Yahaya has been appointed as the returning officer, to be assisted by three officers. A total 423 EC personnel will be involved in the by-election which the EC estimates it has to spend about RM550,000.

The nomination centre and main tallying centre will be at the Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara in Bukit Mertajam. Eight schools will be used as polling centres with 39 streams. Meanwhile, asked as to EC’s precautionary measures against Influenza A (H1N1) during polling day which involves a lot of people, Abdul Aziz said they will seek the advice and views from state health director on what should be done. "At the EC level, we have asked our officers who will be dealing with the public and voters to wear masks," he added.

NOTE: HAPPY VOTING TO PMTG PASIRIANS... USE UR VOTE WISELY.. THE EVIDENCE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.