Voting ends at 5pm, no extension

GE14 | Voting for the 14th general election ended at 5pm, with Election Commission chief Hashim Abdullah dismissing the need for a time extension.

"We will close at 5pm for those not in the voting room," he said in an interview with RTM1.

Hashim said this is because the 5pm closing time has been gazetted and votes cast past that time can be challenged in court to the detriment of certain parties.

He added that this is the reason EC advised people to come out to vote as early as possible. 

This is despite calls for the EC to extend the voting period in light of long queues at polling centres.

Hashim said the commission expects there to be a backlash from certain quarters dissatisfied with this announcement.

"But rules are rules," he said.

He said the polls must close at 5pm to make way for ballot counting. -Mkini