PUTRAJAYA, June 28 — The Election Commission (EC) has set polling day for the Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan for August 17.
Newly appointed EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said the nomination and early voting for the by-election have been set for August 3 and 13, respectively.
“The electoral roll for the Nenggiri by-election contains 20,259 electors. This by-election will be held at a cost of RM1.6 million,” he told a press conference after chairing a special EC meeting to discuss the by-election at Menara SPR here today.
Previously, Kelantan State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah announced the state seat vacant effective June 19.
The casual seat vacancy for Nenggiri was announced after the Kelantan assembly received a written notice under Clause (3), Article 31A of the Kelantan Constitution from Nenggiri assemblyman Mohd Azizi Abu Naim on June 13.
Ramlan said 431 workers will be on duty for this by-election.
He said the EC has appointed a returning officer and three assistant returning officers to oversee the Nenggiri by-election, while two campaign enforcement teams, which will comprise police, local authorities and contesting party representatives, will also be set up to monitor activities during the campaign period.
Nomination and vote counting will be held at Dewan Perdana, Gua Musang District Council Complex.
“The by-election will have 20 regular polling centres with 46 voting streams, and one early voting centre.
“The campaign period is set for 14 days, starting from the declaration of candidates after nomination on August 3 until 11.59pm on August 16,” he said.
Ramlan said the application process for all categories of postal votes, both domestic and overseas, will be open online from today.
The closing date for applications is July 30 for Category 1A (election staff, EC members, and police, military, and media personnel), and July 23 for Category 1B (Malaysian citizens residing abroad) and Category 1C (agencies/organisations).
For information on polling centres and voter numbers, electors can visit the EC portal, use the MySPR Semak app, or contact the EC hotline at 03-8892 7218, which will be open from July 29.
Ramlan called on prospective candidates for the by-election to complete and pre-check their nomination forms with the returning officer or the Kelantan EC Office before nomination day to ensure a smooth nomination process.
However, he said nomination papers must be submitted by the candidate, their proposer or seconder on nomination day at the designated centre.
He said the EC invites any government agency, non-governmental organisation, or interested parties to monitor the by-election process as observers, from nomination day until the 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.
Application forms for observers can be obtained from the EC website from today. The closing date for applications is July 18.
Ramlan said the EC will livestream the by-election process on its Facebook page.
To boost voter turnout, he said the EC will launch the “Jom Kita Undi” campaign via various channels including electronic media, social media, public service announcements, as well as buntings and banners at strategic hotspots.
— Bernama
