Three enforcement teams to monitor Bukit Gelugor by-election - EC

Three enforcement teams which will include representatives of the parties contesting will assist in monitoring the flow of the by-election process for the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat scheduled for May 25.

Penang acting director of the Election Commission (EC) Azizal Ahmad said the team would also include a police officer with the rank of Inspector or higher and a representative of the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP).

He said a team would be deployed in each of the three State constituency seats namely Paya Terubung, Ayer Itam and Seri Delima.

"Their tasks begin after the nomination day. They will monitor the campaign materials, ceramah...they will take action if the contesting parties do not comply with the regulations specified by the EC," he told Bernama, here.

He advised political parties contesting in the by-election to obtain the pass from the returning officer to enable their representatives to participate in the nomination process on Monday (May 12).

Azizal said the EC would provide three tents for party supporters at the grounds of the Dewan Sri Pinang, here and each candidate wishing to contest would only be allowed to bring in 100 supporters to the grounds of the Dewan Sri Pinang.

He said 1,095 personnel would be deployed throughout the by-election comprising the returning officer right up to the driver.

A total of 17 polling districts would be opened during the by-election with 139 channels for ordinary voting and four channels for early voting, he said.

Members of the public wishing to obtain a copy of the Electoral Roll for the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary by-election could purchase the book at the state EC office at a price of RM331.80.

A Bernama check at the state EC office on Tuesday found the staff busily preparing the ballot boxes and making preparation for the nomination process on Monday.

The Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat covering 28sq km has a total of 82,431 registered voters as at April 17.

The Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Karpal Singh from the DAP, after a road accident at Kilometer 306.1 of the North-South Highway near Gua Tempurung in Kampar, Perak on April 17.

The DAP chairman won the seat in the 13th general election with a majority of 42,706 votes by beating Barisan Nasional candidate Teh Beng Yeam who garnered 13,597 votes.