JOHOR BAHRU: Johor goes to the polls today for its 15th state election to enable its people to exercise their rights to elect a new state government.

This election will also witness those aged 18 to 20, who are automatically registered with the implementation of Undi18, going to the polls as first time voters.

A total of 173,177 youths aged between 18 and 20 are eligible to vote in this Johor state election, making them the first in this age group to go to vote in elections in Malaysia.

There will be 1,021 polling stations, which will open their doors at 8 am today to allow the 2,539,606 ordinary voters, out of the total 2,597,742 registered voters in the state, to fulfil their responsibilities.

A total of 36,729 postal ballot papers had been issued by the Election Commission (EC), while about 87 per cent of the total voters, or 18,625 individuals, comprising policemen, soldiers and their spouses exercised their right as early voters last Tuesday (March 8).

For the voting process today, polling centres with one or two channels will be closed earlier as gazetted and they are at Balai Raya Pulau Besar in Mersing, which will close at 11 am; Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pulau Pemanggil, Mersing (1 pm); 15 polling centres will close at 2 pm and 41 others at 4 pm.

The remaining polling centres will close at 6 pm.

A total of 239 candidates from 15 political parties are contesting for 56 seats in this state election.

The political parties are Barisan Nasional (BN); Perikatan Nasional (PN); Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang); Pakatan Harapan and its component party PKR , which is contesting using its own logo, as well as the strategic partners in the coalition, the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA); Parti Warisan (Warisan); Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM); Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).

There will be seven three-cornered fights, 35 four-cornered fights, eight five-cornered fights, four six-cornered fights, and two seven-cornered fights.

Among eminent personalities expected to cast their votes today are Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pengkalan Raja, Pekan Nanas in Pontian; former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sri Muar in Muar; Senior Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein at the Taman Sri Lambak Religious School in Kluang and MUDA president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman at SK Taman Sutera here.

The Election Commission has reminded all Johor voters to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP), which include wearing the face mask, using hand sanitiser, recording their attendance, and observing physical distancing.

Voters with COVID-19 symptoms would be allowed to cast their votes at a special tent monitored by health officials, while those categorised as Patient Under Investigation (PUI) and Person Under Surveillance (PUS) must obtain prior permission from the district health officer to go the polling centre.

According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), the weather this morning is forecast to be clear, while thunderstorms is expected in the afternoon in seven districts namely Johor Bahru, Tangkak, Segamat, Muar, Batu Pahat, Pontian and Kulai.

The temperature throughout the day will hover between 23 and 33 degrees Celsius.

-- BERNAMA