Chini by-election: Early voting centre closed at noon

The early voting centre for the Chini state seat by-election at the Information Room in the Chini Police Station near here was closed at noon sharp today.

The early voting process involved 17 of 18 police personnel who were eligible to vote today. One person did not turn up to vote.

The four-hour early voting process began at 8 a.m. and was witnessed by agents of the candidates contesting the seat, as well as election observers comprising representatives of various organisations and non-governmental organisations appointed by the Election Commission (EC).

The ballot boxes for the early voting process will be kept at the police lock-up and counting will be done on polling day this Saturday at the counting centre in the Information Room of the Paloh Hinal Police Station.

Also present to look at the early voting process was EC secretary Ikmalrudin Ishak, Chini by-election managing officer Datuk Zaliza Zulkifli and the three contesting candidates - Barisan Nasional's Mohd Sharim Md Zain, 41, and the two Independent candidates - Tengku Datuk Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin, 64, and Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli, 49.

In a press conference held here today, Zaliza said the early voting process was smooth without any hitches.

"I am satisfied with the level of compliance with the SOP set for the Chini early voting process. It went smoothly without any incident," he said.

All the three candidates - Mohd Sharim, Tengku Zainul Hisham and Mohd Shukri - told reporters when met after they viewed the centre that they were satisfied with the early voting process conducted in the new normal.

The Chini state seat by-election is being held following the death of its incumbent Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Harun, 60, at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on May 7 due to a heart attack.

The constituency has 20,990 voters, with 90.39 per cent or 19,058 being Malay. The voters comprised 10,269 men and 10,721 women.

The state seat is one of four in the Pekan Parliamentary constituency. This by-election is the first to be conducted after the Movement Control Order was enforced on March 18, and the 11th after the 14th General Election.

-- BERNAMA