Over 7,500 BN divisions start operations room today, says Ahmad

MALACCA, Feb 1 — Some 7,531 Barisan Nasional (BN) polling district centre (PDM) operations rooms in 222 parliamentary constituencies in the country start operations today in preparation for the 13th general election.

Publicity and Information Bureau chairman Datuk Ahmad Maslan(picture) said each PDM operations room comprises five key officers including the chief and committee members tasked with collecting data and making election charts.

“Most importantly, they have to review the latest electoral rolls and identify voters as white, grey, black or out station voters,” he told reporters after visiting Kampung Morten PDM operation room here today.

The opening of PDM operations rooms was in accordance with the directive of Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak as the coming election is considered unusual.

“Since it is an unusual election, we open the PDM operations rooms before the dissolution of parliament unlike during previous elections when they were opened only after the dissolution of parliament.”

Ahmad said that PDM operations rooms must be decorated with BN flags and it is up to the chiefs to determine the operating hours.

“We can rotate among the 10 committee members meaning 180 members for each PDM operations room to keep them open according to the needs and situation.”

The deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said PDM operations rooms could hold talks on a small scale, make door-to-door visits and hold other activities.

Asked whether action would be taken against those yet to open PDM operations rooms, he said that the matter it would be noted.

“Since party work is voluntary, we can only persuade and issue directive. I am confident that the directive to open PDM operations rooms will be adhered to.” — Bernama